Legacy Research Institute

Hongli Yang, Ph.D.

Research Scientist
Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute
Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories

Phone: 503-413-5353  |  Email: hyang@deverseye.org

CV (Updated Nov 2024)  |  Peer Reviewed Publications
Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory
Discoveries in Sight Laboratories  |  Devers Eye Institute

Short Bio:

Dr. Hongli Yang graduated from Tulane University with a major in Biomedical Engineering and is a Research Scientist at the Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory (ONHRL), part of Legacy Devers Eye Institute, Discoveries in Sight, at Legacy Research Institute.

The ONHRL is funded to study the effects of aging, myopia, and glaucoma on the neural and connective tissues of the optic nerve head using 3D histomorphometric reconstructions. The lab also focuses on imaging and phenotyping the optic nerve head, macula, and peripapillary sclera in both monkeys and humans using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).

Dr. Yang's research expertise includes three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, quantification, visualization, and statistical data analysis of optic nerve head anatomy in rats, monkeys, and humans. This involves post-mortem 3D histomorphometric reconstructions, axon counting, and in-vivo and ex-vivo OCT images. She has collaborated closely with IT director Juan Reynaud to apply these techniques to study monkey optic nerve head tissues from early through end-stage experimental glaucoma. These studies have enabled her to translate her quantification and data analysis strategies from monkeys to rats and humans.

Dr. Yang has first-authored or co-first-authored over 25 core ONHRL publications on 3D histomorphometric reconstruction and quantification, as well as 3D OCT quantification and parameterization in monkeys and humans. Several additional first-authored publications are currently in preparation or under review. Her research is supported by the NIH, BrightFocus Foundation, Legacy Good Samaritan Foundation, and unrestricted funds from Heidelberg Engineering. 

Publication Highlights:

OCT Optic Nerve Head Morphology in Myopia II: Peri-Neural Canal Scleral Bowing and Choroidal Thickness in High Myopia-An American Ophthalmological Society Thesis.
Burgoyne CF, Wang YX, Jeoung JW, Hong S, Gardiner S, Reynaud J, Fortune B, Girard MJA, Sharpe G, Nicolela M, Chauhan BC, Yang H.
Am J Ophthalmol.2023; 252:225-252.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36906092/

Diagnostic Performance for Detection of Glaucomatous Structural Damage Using Pixelwise Analysis of Retinal Thickness Measurements.
Yang H, Reynaud J, Sharpe GP, Jennings D, Albert C, Holthausen T, Jiang X, Demirel S, Mansberger SL, Nicolela MT, Gardiner SK, Chauhan BC, Burgoyne CF, Fortune B.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci.2024; 65(12):17.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39382878/

Optical Coherence Tomography Structural Abnormality Detection in Glaucoma Using Topographically Correspondent Rim and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Criteria.
Yang H, Luo H, Hardin C, Wang YX, Jeoung JW, Albert C, Vianna JR, Sharpe GP, Reynaud J, Demirel S, Mansberger SL, Fortune B, Nicolela M, Gardiner SK, Chauhan BC, Burgoyne CF.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2020;213:203‐216.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31899204

3D Histomorphometric Reconstruction and Quantification of the Optic Nerve Head Connective Tissues.
Yang H, Reynaud J, Lockwood H, Williams G, Hardin C, Reyes L, Gardiner SK, Burgoyne CF.  
Methods Mol Biol. 2018;1695:207-267.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29190029

The Connective Tissue Phenotype of Glaucomatous Cupping in the Monkey Eye - Clinical and Research Implications.
Yang H, Reynaud J, Lockwood H, Williams G, Hardin C, Reyes L, Stowell C, Gardiner SK, Burgoyne CF.
Prog Retin Eye Res. 2017; 59:1-52.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/5603293

Research Interests:

• Optic nerve head biomechanics, blood flow, and aging
• Optic nerve head and macular imaging
• Optic nerve head structural phenotype in healthy, glaucomatous and myopia eyes
• Machine Learning in glaucoma

Research Focus:

Dr. Yang has been working at the Devers Eye Institute Optic Nerve Head Research Laboratory (ONHRL), which is funded to study the effects of aging, glaucoma, and myopia on the neural and connective tissues of the optic nerve head using 3D histomorphometric reconstructions. This research has now expanded to include the use of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to phenotype the optic nerve head, macular tissues, and peripapillary sclera in both monkeys and humans. This work has significantly contributed to a paradigm shift in how human patients with glaucoma or those at risk for developing the disease are imaged using OCT.

Recently, Dr. Yang has broadened her research focus to study blood flow in glaucoma using Laser Speckle Flowgraphy and OCT Angiography techniques. Additionally, she is leveraging machine learning and statistical learning methods to differentiate between glaucoma, glaucoma-suspect, and myopia from normal healthy eyes.

Dr. Yang also serves as a co-investigator and paid consultant for The Glaucoma / Myopia OCT Phenotyping Consortium (GMOPC). GMOPC is an international research collaboration of 13 clinical sites aimed at improving our ability to detect changes associated with nearsightedness (myopia) and glaucoma in the back of the eye using clinical imaging devices. 

Juvenile Myopia Research Project Looking for Participants:

WHAT: Participate in the study Myopia related ONH Progression in Children, Teens, and Young Adults to help us learn about and better understand the features of myopia to help patients in the future. Participants will be evaluated every six months over an 18-month period, totaling four exams using clinical imaging devices. Exam time is 1.5-2 hours.

REQUIREMENTS: Ages 6-22 with nearsightedness, ranging from-2D to -0.5D, family history of myopia, or axial lengths at an age at risk of developing myopia with a 50% chance or more.

COMPENSATION: $50 per exam after completion.
If volunteering is preferred, volunteer hours or a certificate can be obtained through Lions Club International.

Primary Contact to sign up: myopiastudy@deverseye.org
Secondary Contact: Dr. Yang, hyang@deverseye.org
Legacy Devers Eye Institute, 1040 NW 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97210

This study has been approved by the Legacy Institutional Review Board at Legacy Research Institute.

High Myopia and Glaucoma Research Project Looking for Participants (all ages):

Primary Contact to sign up: Cindy Albert, calbert@deverseye.org, 503-413-6457
Secondary Contact: Dr. Yang, hyang@deverseye.org
Legacy Devers Eye Institute, 1040 NW 22nd Ave, Portland, OR 97210