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Christopher Toomey

Photo of Christopher Toomey
Title(s)Assistant Professor Of Clinical, Ophthalmology
SchoolVc-health Sciences-schools
Address9500 Gilman Drive #
La Jolla CA 92093
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CABS06/2010Neurosciences and Physiology
    Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NCMD06/2016Medicine
    Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NCPhD06/2016Cell Biology
    University of California, San Diego, Shiley Eye Institute, La Jolla, CA06/2020Residency in Ophthalmology
    Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, MD06/2022Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery
    Collapse awards and honors
    NIH/NEI2025  - 2028NIH Trailblazer Award
    Larry L. Hillblom Foundation2024  - 2027Career Start-up Award
    Foundation for Fighting Blindness2024  - 2029Career Development Award
    Alcon Research Institute2024  - 2025Young Investigator Award
    Research to Prevent Blindness2023  - 2027Career Development Award
    University of California, San Diego2023  - 2023Lanna Cheng Innovation Ophthalmology Award
    Robert Machemer MD Foundation2022  - 2023Robert Machemer Fellowship
    AEVR/NAEVR2022  - 2022Emerging Vision Scientist
    Heed Ophthalmic Foundation2021  - 2022Heed Fellowship
    University of California, San Diego2010  - 2010John Muir Caledonian Society

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Clinical Trials

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    Bruch's Membrane-On-A-Chip to Study Drusen Formation in AMD
    NIH R21EY037260Aug 1, 2025 - Jul 31, 2028
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Heparan Sulfate Regulation of HTRA1-Mediated Proteostasis in Bruch’s Membrane in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
    BrightFocus Foundation 317438-00001Jul 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2027
    Role: Primary Mentor
    Heparan Sulfate and Lipoprotein Interactions in Bruch's Membrane in the Early Stages of AMD
    Foundation for Fighting Blindness CD-CL-0824-0886-UCSDJul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2029
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Role of Bruch Membrane Heparan Sulfate in Drusenogenesis in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
    NIH K08EY035322Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2029
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Role of High Density Lipoprotein Particles in Early Age-related Macular Degeneration
    Larry L. Hillblom Foundation A-013Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2027
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Characterization and Binding Properties of Lipoproteins in Bruch's Membrane in Age-related Macular Degeneration
    Alcon Research Institute 30342012Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
    Role: Principal Investigator
    The role of Bruch’s Membrane Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Drusenogenesis in AMD
    Research to Prevent Blindness RPB CDA 2023Jul 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2027
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Ultrastructural Glycomics Analysis of Bruch's Membrane in Age-related Macular Degeneration
    Robert Machemer MD and International Retinal Research Foundation RMF-IRRF-001-2022Jul 1, 2022 - Dec 1, 2023
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse ORNG Applications 
    Collapse Featured Publications

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Age-related macular degeneration and cerebral amyloid angiopathy have similar pathologies from cholesterol-APOE-amyloid-β-complement mediated inflammation. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2026 Mar; 111:101449. Stuard Sambhariya W, Bowes Rickman C, D'Amore PA, Corradetti G, Hageman GS, Howell GR, Marola OJ, Phatnani H, Philp NJ, Sinha D, Toomey CB, Stone F, Eberhart C, Handa JT. PMID: 41708012; PMCID: PMC12949356.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. Longitudinal Metabolic Trajectories in Diabetes Prevention Program Participants Reveal Subgroups With Varying Micro- and Macrovascular Complication Risks. Diabetes Care. 2025 Oct 01; 48(10):1704-1712. Kobayashi E, Linden-Santangeli NJ, Chan N, Toomey CB, Mudaliar S, Temprosa M, Edelstein S, Goyal R, Rangamani P, Majithia AR, Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group . PMID: 40857122; PMCID: PMC12451836.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. Reply. Ophthalmology. 2025 Dec; 132(12):e195-e196. Chen JS, Esko JD, Gordts PLSM, Walker E, Baxter SL, Toomey CB. PMID: 41003470.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    4. Bruch's membrane heparan sulfate retains lipoproteins in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jun 17; 122(24):e2500727122. Toomey CB, Pflugmacher S, Park K, Pihl J, Weiser Novak S, Rodriguez J, Jalali M, Jung J, Mozafari M, Omran SP, Pormir CK, Hauer J, Painter C, Walker E, Huang AS, Boassa D, Handa JT, Aastrup T, Gordts PLSM, Esko JD. PMID: 40512794; PMCID: PMC12184332.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. The Sialome of the Retina, Alteration in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Pathology, and Potential Impacts on Complement Factor H. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2025 Jun 02; 66(6):81. Swan J, Toomey CB, Bergstrand M, Cuello HA, Robie J, Yu H, Yuan Y, Kooner AS, Chen X, Shaughnessy J, Ram S, Varki A, Gagneux P. PMID: 40576434; PMCID: PMC12212450.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Breaking Bruch's: How changes in Bruch's membrane influence retinal homeostasis. Exp Eye Res. 2025 Jun; 255:110343. Clark SJ, Curcio C, Dick AD, Doyle S, Edwards M, Flores-Bellver M, Hass D, Lennon R, Toomey CB, Rohrer B. PMID: 40107443.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    
    7. The sialome of the retina, alteration in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathology and potential impacts on Complement Factor H. bioRxiv. 2025 Mar 13. Swan J, Toomey CB, Bergstrand M, Cuello HA, Robie J, Yu H, Yuan Y, Kooner AS, Chen X, Shaughnessy J, Ram S, Varki A, Gagneux P. PMID: 40161805; PMCID: PMC11952305.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    8. Response to Letter to the Editor: Visual Outcomes after Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Retina. 2025 Mar 05. Toomey CB, Kalaw FGP, Walker E, Freeman WR. PMID: 40068192.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    9. Development of an image-guided non-vitrectomy subretinal access approach for trans-scleral cell and gene therapy delivery. bioRxiv. 2025 Mar 01. Singh MS, Guo S, Toomey CB, McNally M, Harris-Bookman S, Li K, Agakishiev D, Wei S, Lee S, Perrino K, Wolfe KC, Kang JU. PMID: 40060673; PMCID: PMC11888455.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    10. High-Density Lipoproteins Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the All of Us Research Program. Ophthalmology. 2025 Jun; 132(6):684-691. Chen JS, Esko JD, Walker E, Gordts PLSM, Baxter SL, Toomey CB. PMID: 39756691; PMCID: PMC12097936.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. OCT Changes Observed during the Progression of Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmol Sci. 2025 Jan-Feb; 5(1):100615. Heckenlaible NJ, Toomey CB, Handa JT. PMID: 39584182; PMCID: PMC11584586.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    12. Evaluation of Retinal Arterial Occlusion and its Visual and Systemic Prognosis after Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Retina. 2024 Aug 14. Kalaw FGP, Chartrand N, Wedekind L, Chen JS, Lin AC, Koretz Z, Meller L, Oca M, Jagadeesh V, Wilson K, Walker E, Freeman WR, Toomey CB. PMID: 39163734.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
    13. The Sensitivity of Ultra-Widefield Fundus Photography Versus Scleral Depressed Examination for Detection of Retinal Horseshoe Tears. Am J Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov; 255:155-160. Lin AC, Kalaw FGP, Schönbach EM, Song D, Koretz Z, Walker E, Breazzano MP, Scott NL, Borooah S, Ferreyra H, Spencer DB, Goldbaum MH, Nudleman ED, Freeman WR, Toomey CB. PMID: 37468086.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    
    14. Greater Outflow Facility Increase After Targeted Trabecular Bypass in Angiographically Determined Low-low Regions. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2023 Nov-Dec; 6(6):570-579. Strohmaier CA, Wanderer D, Zhang X, Agarwal D, Toomey CB, Wahlin K, Zhang HF, Stamer WD, Weinreb RN, McDonnell FS, Huang AS. PMID: 37348815; PMCID: PMC10917462.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    15. Pseudobleb of silicone oil-related progressive staphylomatous scleral ectasia. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2023 03; 46(3):308-309. Toomey CB, Akpek E, Breazzano MP. PMID: 36682953; PMCID: PMC9992274.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Prevalence of subclinical retinal ischemia in patients with cardiovascular disease - a hypothesis driven study. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Mar; 33:100775. Long CP, Chan AX, Bakhoum CY, Toomey CB, Madala S, Garg AK, Freeman WR, Goldbaum MH, DeMaria AN, Bakhoum MF. PMID: 33842865; PMCID: PMC8020165.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 27  
    17. PREVALENCE OF MISMATCH REPAIR GENE MUTATIONS IN UVEAL MELANOMA. Retina. 2020 Nov; 40(11):2216-2220. Toomey CB, Protopsaltis NJ, Phou S, Bakhoum MF, Thorson JA, Ediriwickrema LS, Korn BS, Kikkawa DO, Goldbaum MH, Lin JH. PMID: 32032254.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    18. Mechanisms of Environment-Induced Autoimmunity. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2021 01 06; 61:135-157. Pollard KM, Cauvi DM, Mayeux JM, Toomey CB, Peiss AK, Hultman P, Kono DH. PMID: 32857688; PMCID: PMC8166384.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    19. Initiatives to reduce the inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors in an outpatient primary care clinic. Ann Pharm Fr. 2020 11; 78(6):497-498. Kudaravalli P, Doobay R, Carvounis C, Toomey C, Dhamoon A. PMID: 32485143.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Rifabutin-Cobicistat Drug Interaction Resulting in Severe Bilateral Panuveitis. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2020 Jan-Apr; 11(1):156-160. Toomey CB, Lee J, Spencer DB. PMID: 32399018; PMCID: PMC7204858.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    21. A Case of Unilateral Coccidioidal Chorioretinitis in a Patient with HIV-Associated Meningoencephalitis. Case Rep Ophthalmol Med. 2019; 2019:1475628. Toomey CB, Gross A, Lee J, Spencer DB. PMID: 31687242; PMCID: PMC6800899.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    22. Beware of the sneeze. Surv Ophthalmol. 2020 Sep - Oct; 65(5):592-596. Yang P, Toomey CB, Lin J, Kikkawa DO, Korn BS, Harrison A. PMID: 30978335.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Immediate Release of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Mediates Delayed Radiation-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Pathol. 2019 05; 189(5):1029-1040. Tighe RM, Heck K, Soderblom E, Zhou S, Birukova A, Young K, Rouse D, Vidas J, Komforti MK, Toomey CB, Cuttitta F, Sunday ME. PMID: 30898588; PMCID: PMC6521890.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsPHPublic Health
    24. Mercury-induced inflammation and autoimmunity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2019 12; 1863(12):129299. Pollard KM, Cauvi DM, Toomey CB, Hultman P, Kono DH. PMID: 30742953; PMCID: PMC6689266.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 54     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    25. GNAQ and PMS1 Mutations Associated with Uveal Melanoma, Ocular Surface Melanosis, and Nevus of Ota. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2019 Jun; 5(4):267-272. Toomey CB, Fraser K, Thorson JA, Goldbaum MH, Lin JH. PMID: 31367589; PMCID: PMC6615330.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    26. Effect of Anti-C5a Therapy in a Murine Model of Early/Intermediate Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018 02 01; 59(2):662-673. Toomey CB, Landowski M, Klingeborn M, Kelly U, Deans J, Dong H, Harrabi O, Van Blarcom T, Yeung YA, Grishanin R, Lin JC, Saban DR, Bowes Rickman C. PMID: 29392311; PMCID: PMC5795897.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 16     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    27. Knee confidence in youth and young adults at risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis 3-10 years following intra-articular knee injury. J Sci Med Sport. 2018 Jul; 21(7):671-675. Ezzat AM, Whittaker JL, Toomey C, Doyle-Baker PK, Brussoni M, Emery CA. PMID: 29233667.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Complement factor H in AMD: Bridging genetic associations and pathobiology. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 01; 62:38-57. Toomey CB, Johnson LV, Bowes Rickman C. PMID: 28928087; PMCID: PMC5776047.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 97     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    29. From the Cover: Interplay Between IFN-γ and IL-6 Impacts the Inflammatory Response and Expression of Interferon-Regulated Genes in Environmental-Induced Autoimmunity. Toxicol Sci. 2017 07 01; 158(1):227-239. Cauvi DM, Cauvi G, Toomey CB, Jacquinet E, Pollard KM. PMID: 28453771; PMCID: PMC6075572.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    30. Long-term survival following open versus thoracoscopic lobectomy after preoperative chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016 Jun; 49(6):1615-23. Yang CF, Meyerhoff RR, Mayne NR, Singhapricha T, Toomey CB, Speicher PJ, Hartwig MG, Tong BC, Onaitis MW, Harpole DH, D'Amico TA, Berry MF. PMID: 26719408; PMCID: PMC4867396.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 35     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. The body composition phenotype of Irish adults aged 18-81 years. Ir J Med Sci. 2016 May; 185(2):537-44. Toomey C, Leahy S, McCreesh K, Coote S, Jakeman P. PMID: 26265025.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Regulation of age-related macular degeneration-like pathology by complement factor H. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Jun 09; 112(23):E3040-9. Toomey CB, Kelly U, Saban DR, Bowes Rickman C. PMID: 25991857; PMCID: PMC4466717.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 90     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    33. Long-Term Outcomes of Lobectomy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Definitive Radiation Treatment. Ann Thorac Surg. 2015 Jun; 99(6):1914-20. Yang CF, Meyerhoff RR, Stephens SJ, Singhapricha T, Toomey CB, Anderson KL, Kelsey C, Harpole D, D'Amico TA, Berry MF. PMID: 25886806; PMCID: PMC4458187.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Expression of human complement factor H prevents age-related macular degeneration-like retina damage and kidney abnormalities in aged Cfh knockout mice. Am J Pathol. 2015 Jan; 185(1):29-42. Ding JD, Kelly U, Landowski M, Toomey CB, Groelle M, Miller C, Smith SG, Klingeborn M, Singhapricha T, Jiang H, Frank MM, Bowes Rickman C. PMID: 25447048; PMCID: PMC4278241.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 39     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    35. Cathepsin B regulates the appearance and severity of mercury-induced inflammation and autoimmunity. Toxicol Sci. 2014 Dec; 142(2):339-49. Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Hamel JC, Ramirez AE, Pollard KM. PMID: 25237059; PMCID: PMC4250846.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    36. The role of decay accelerating factor in environmentally induced and idiopathic systemic autoimmune disease. Autoimmune Dis. 2014; 2014:452853. Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Pollard KM. PMID: 24592327; PMCID: PMC3921935.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9  
    37. Interferon-γ and systemic autoimmunity. Discov Med. 2013 Sep; 16(87):123-31. Pollard KM, Cauvi DM, Toomey CB, Morris KV, Kono DH. PMID: 23998448; PMCID: PMC3934799.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 148     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    38. Definition of IFN-γ-related pathways critical for chemically-induced systemic autoimmunity. J Autoimmun. 2012 Dec; 39(4):323-31. Pollard KM, Hultman P, Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Hoffman HM, Hamel JC, Kono DH. PMID: 22578563; PMCID: PMC3570757.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    39. Depletion of complement does not impact initiation of xenobiotic-induced autoimmune disease. Immunology. 2012 Apr; 135(4):333-43. Cauvi DM, Toomey CB, Pollard KM. PMID: 22136142; PMCID: PMC3372748.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    40. β2-microglobulin is required for the full expression of xenobiotic-induced systemic autoimmunity. J Immunotoxicol. 2011 Jul-Sep; 8(3):228-37. Pollard KM, Hultman P, Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Kono DH, Konoc DH. PMID: 21793797; PMCID: PMC3257888.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    41. Decay-accelerating factor 1 (Daf1) deficiency exacerbates xenobiotic-induced autoimmunity. Immunology. 2010 Sep; 131(1):99-106. Toomey CB, Cauvi DM, Song WC, Pollard KM. PMID: 20408894; PMCID: PMC2966762.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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