Dr. McKie manages the Corneal Disease and the Ocular Infection, Inflammation, and Immunology portfolios. The cornea is subject to a range of diseases and conditions including common allergies, corneal scarring from infections or injuries, conjunctivitis or pink eye, dry eye, ocular herpes, and keratoconus. Although the cornea is clear and seems to lack substance, it is actually a highly organized group of cells and proteins. Research initiatives are focused on developing a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms that regulate these cells and proteins in order to develop better therapeutics to treat these conditions. The Ocular Infection, Inflammation, and Immunology program looks at the spectrum of ocular disease and how these conditions are associated with immune system function and dysfunction. Prior to joining the NEI, Dr. McKie served as a scientific review officer at the NIH Center for Scientific Review, where she managed the Small Business Study Section covering medical devices and therapeutics for diagnosis and treatment of ocular and hearing diseases. She serves on several trans-NIH committees, including the NIH Office of AIDS Research Therapeutics Coordinating Committee, Trans-Agency Autoimmune Disease Coordinating Committee (ADCC), Trans-NIH Sarcoidosis Working Group, Trans-NIH Exosome Working Group, and the NCATS Therapeutics Discovery program. Dr. McKie is the author and coauthor of numerous research articles based on studies on corneal wound healing and the effect of nanostructured substrates. Her published manuscripts have appeared in Biomaterials, Journal of Cell Science, Urological Research, Cells Tissues Organs, and Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences.

Corneal Diseases, Ocular Infection, Inflammation and Immunology