Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA
Department of Ophthalmology
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas

Dr. Weng is a tenured Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and serves as the Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery Fellowship Program Director. Additionally, she has a faculty appointment at the Level I trauma center, Ben Taub General Hospital, in Houston.

Research Interests

Dr. Weng is an active investigator in numerous clinical trials, including the DRCR Retina Network trials and the AGTC Phase 1/2 intravitreal gene therapy study for X-linked retinoschisis. She leads numerous research studies in her areas of interest: macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, healthcare economics, and telemedicine, including home OCT (optical coherence tomography).

Dr. Weng is  a national chair for a DRCR Retina Network Protocol global NIH/NEI-supported randomized clinical trial evaluating the use of an innovative technology, Home OCT, which is a portable version of the device used to guide current treatment of wet macular degeneration. The Home OCT device allows patients to perform daily scans of their retina from the comfort of their own home; these images are monitored by a validated artificial intelligence platform and can also be accessed and interpreted by the retina specialist. This imaging system allows for the earliest detection of disease activity which facilitates prompt treatment with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections. Home OCT brings holds the promise of offering truly personalized medicine, and may optimize visual acuity outcomes while minimizing treatment burden.  Recruitment in this trial is ongoing with anticipated completion in 2026.

Dr. Weng’s research group is currently working on a time-driven activity-based costing analysis of tractional retinal detachments in collaboration with another major academic medical center; she anticipate completion in 2026, and expect that these results will likely be impactful in guiding future Medicare reimbursement values.

Time-driven activity-based costing in ophthalmic procedures: The ability to provide care for patients hinges on a balanced healthcare ecosystem. Dr. Weng’s involvement with the field’s major societies such as the American Society of Retina Specialists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology has underscored the importance of advocating for the retina specialty so that physicians can ultimately provide the quality of care that their patients deserve.  Leveraging her business background, Dr. Weng’s work in healthcare economics has garnered interest in an accurate and practical approach to costing of clinical and surgical procedures which has now become widely-adopted across ophthalmology.

Dr Weng has authored over 150 peer-reviewed publications and dozens of book chapters, in addition to delivering hundreds of national and international lectures around the world. Dr. Weng is nationally renowned, holding numerous leadership roles within major ophthalmology organizations such as the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), Retina Society, Macula Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and Women in Ophthalmology.

Dr. Weng graduated cum laude from Northwestern University and then went to medical school at the University of Michigan, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Society. While in Ann Arbor, she pursued an MBA degree from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and graduated with high distinction. Dr. Weng completed her ophthalmology residency at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and surgical retina fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami.

Previous RRF Research Chairholder

2013-2022:  Ching-Kang Jason Chen, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neuroscience; Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine