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J. William Harbour, MD, Ophthalmology, Dallas, TX, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

J. WilliamHarbourMD

Ophthalmology Dallas, TX

Ocular Oncology

Professor & Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center

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Summary

  • Dr. Harbour is an ocular oncologist, cancer researcher, educator and innovator in the development of precision medicine for patients with eye cancers like uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. Dr. Harbour is now Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Through his distinctive fusion of clinical practice and basic research, Dr. Harbour has contributed numerous scientific discoveries and clinical innovations. He invented the first and only prospectively validated molecular prognostic test for uveal melanoma and discovered two of the most important driver mutations in this cancer (BAP1 and SF3B1). His work led to the discovery of the BAP1 familial cancer syndrome. He has made seminal contributions to the understanding of the retinoblastoma gene and protein. He has contributed many innovations to biopsy and surgical techniques for intraocular tumors. He has a large international referral practice for patients with intraocular tumors and diagnostic dilemmas of macular and retinal diseases. His research uses genetics, genomics, cell biology, animal models, computational biology, and bioinformatics to improve the care of patients with eye cancer. Dr. Harbour has been the principal investigator on major research grants from the National Institutes of Health, and many private foundations. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, many in high profile journals such as Science, Cell, and the Nature journals. He has founded several collaborative groups, such as the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group that is conducting the most rapidly accruing multicenter prospective study ever performed for uveal melanoma. He recently established a new international research consortium to address the role of genetic ancestry in the risk, severity, and outcomes for patients with eye cancers around the world.

Education & Training

  • Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
    Washington University in St. Louis School of MedicineFellowship, Cancer Research, 1996 - 1999
  • University of California (San Francisco)
    University of California (San Francisco)Fellowship, Ocular Oncology/Ophthalmic Pathology, 1995 - 1996
  • University of Miami Hospital and Clinics
    University of Miami Hospital and ClinicsFellowship, Surgical Retina and Vitreous, 1994 - 1995
  • Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Wills Eye Hospital
    Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Wills Eye HospitalResidency, Ophthalmology, 1991 - 1994
  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
    Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineClass of 1990
  • National Cancer Institute
    National Cancer InstituteFellowship, Cancer Research, 1987 - 1988
  • Texas A&M University
    Texas A&M UniversityB.S., Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude, 1981 - 1985

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 1995 - Present
  • TX State Medical License
    TX State Medical License 2021 - 2025
  • FL State Medical License
    FL State Medical License 2012 - 2025
  • IL State Medical License
    IL State Medical License 1996 - 2014
  • MO State Medical License
    MO State Medical License Active through 2013
  • PA State Medical License
    PA State Medical License 1992 - 1994
  • American Board of Ophthalmology Ophthalmology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2014
  • Paul Henkind Memorial Award and Lecture Macula Society, 2014
  • America's Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2009-2014
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Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • The genetics of uveal melanoma: an emerging framework for targeted therapy  
    Harbour JW, Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 1/1/2012
  • Commentary: "Bench to bedside in uveal melanoma genetics: the future is now"  
    Harbour JW, Retina Today, 1/1/2010
  • Loss of Id2 potentiates the tumorigenic effect of Rb inactivation in a mouse model of retinoblastoma  
    Landreville S, Ma D, Harbour JW., Curr eyes Res, 1/1/2010
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Books/Book Chapters

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Abstracts/Posters

  • Relationships between clinical features, molecular classification, and driver gene mutation status in uveal melanoma.
    Chao D, Harbour JW, Association for Research in Ophthalmology and Vision Science Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 1/1/2014
  • Clinical predictors of survival after hepatic arterial chemoembolization for stage IV uveal melanoma.
    Walter SD, Harbour JW, Association for Research in Ophthalmology and Vision Science Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 1/1/2014
  • Natural history of circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas.
    Ortiz AG, Gonzalez MA, Harbour JW, Ayres B, Association for Research in Ophthalmology and Vision Science Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 1/1/2014
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Lectures

  • Uveal Melanoma - Current Status and Future Directions. 
    New York, NY - 1/1/2014
  • Uveal Melanoma - The Present And The Future. 
    Key Largo, FL - 1/1/2014
  • Genetic Prognostication in Uveal Melanoma. 
    Tokyo, Japan - 1/1/2014
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Other

Grant Support

  • The Genetics Of Ocular MelanomaNational Cancer Institute2011–2012
  • Molecular Predictive Testing In Ocular MelanomaNational Cancer Institute2006–2012
  • Molecular Predictive Testing In Ocular MelanomaNational Center For Research Resources2008–2009
  • The Role Of RB In The Retina &Other TissuesNational Eye Institute2000–2009
  • Functional Analysis Of The Retinal Regulatory Protein RBNational Eye Institute1998–2002
  • Collaborative Ocular Melanoma StudyNational Eye Institute2000–2001

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations