John H. Lillvis MD, PhD
John H. Lillvis
MD, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Gene Expression; Gene Sequencing; Genome-wide Screening; Genomics and proteomics; Ophthalmology; Pediatric Ophthalmology; Vision science
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDEducation and Training:
- Fellowship, Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus, Cleveland Clinic Foundation (2017)
- Residency, Ophthalmology, Kresge Eye Institute/Detroit Medical Center (2016)
- Internship, Transitional Year, St. John Hospital and Medical Center (2013)
- MD, Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine (2012)
- PhD, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine (2012)
- BA, Chemistry and Religion, Swarthmore College (2003)
- Certificate, Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology
Employment:
- Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2023-present)
- Staff Ophthalmologist, Veterans Administration Medical Center of Western New York (2018-present)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2017–2023)
Research Expertise:
- Genetics of Eye Disease: Fellowship training with experience in diagnosis and management of genetic disease. Collaborating with basic science faculty to study risk factor genes for eye disease
- Pediatric Ophthalmology: Board certified ophthalmologist with fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. Active clinical practice with research projects in pediatric ophthalmology.
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- July 2022–June 2025
Characterizing Adult Strabismus in the National Veteran's Administration (VA) Health System
Buffalo Translational Consortium
Role: Principal Investigator - October 2021–September 2024
Pediatric network for the human cell atlas in the eye (Peds RFA)
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Role: Co-Investigator
$400,712
Journal Articles:
- Shayah Y, Almadhoun O, Pierce D, Lillvis JH, Abdul-Aziz R. (2024) Rare Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome in an Eight-Year-Old Girl With Henoch-Schönlein Purpura: A Case Report. Cureus (Sep), 16(9): e69389. doi:10.7759/cureus.69389
- Shwani T, Zhang C, Owen LA, Shakoor A, Vitale AT, Lillvis JH, Barr JL, Cromwell P, Finley R, Husami N, Au E, Zavala RA, Graves EC, Zhang SX, Farkas MH, Ammar DA, Allison KM, Tawfik A, Sherva RM, Li M, Stambolian D, Kim IK, Farrer LA, DeAngelis MM. (2023) Patterns of Gene Expression, Splicing, and Allele-Specific Expression Vary among Macular Tissues and Clinical Stages of Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Cells (Nov), 12(23). doi:10.3390/cells12232668
- Liang Q, Cheng X, Wang J, Owen L, Shakoor A, Lillvis JL, Zhang C, Farkas M, Kim IK, Li Y, DeAngelis M, Chen R. (2023) A multi-omics atlas of the human retina at single-cell resolution. Cell genomics (Jun), 3(6): 100298. doi:10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100298
- Orozco LD, Owen LA, Hofmann J, Stockwell AD, Tao J, Haller S, Mukundan VT, Clarke C, Lund J, Sridhar A, Mayba O, Barr JL, Zavala RA, Graves EC, Zhang C, Husami N, Finley R, Au E, Lillvis JH, Farkas MH, Shakoor A, Sherva R, Kim IK, Kaminker JS, Townsend MJ, Farrer LA, Yaspan BL, Chen HH, DeAngelis MM. (2023) A systems biology approach uncovers novel disease mechanisms in age-related macular degeneration. Cell genomics (Jun), 3(6): 100302. doi:10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100302
- Barr JL, Feehan M, Tak C, Owen LA, Finley RC, Cromwell PA, Lillvis JH, Hicks PM, Au E, Farkas MH, Weiner A, Reynolds AL, Sieminski SF, Sherva RM, Munger MA, Brilliant MH, DeAngelis MM. (2023) Heritable Risk and Protective Genetic Components of Glaucoma Medication Non-Adherence. International journal of molecular sciences (Mar), 24(6). doi:10.3390/ijms24065636
- Zhang C, Owen LA, Lillvis JH, Zhang SX, Kim IK, DeAngelis MM. (2022) AMD Genomics: Non-Coding RNAs as Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Journal of clinical medicine (Mar), 11(6). doi:10.3390/jcm11061484
- Zhang C, Reynolds AL, Beiter A, Lillvis JH, Reynolds JD. (2021) Effect of Low Dose Intravitreal Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab on Regression and Late Reactivation in Retinopathy of Prematurity in Treatment Naïve Eyes. Ophthalmology. Retina (Dec).
- Hicks PM, Au E, Self W, Haaland B, Feehan M, Owen LA, Siedlecki A, Nuttall E, Harrison D, Reynolds AL, Lillvis JH, Sieminski S, Shulman JP, Barnoya M, Noguera Prera JJ, Gonzalez O, Murtaugh MA, Williams LB, Farkas MH, Crandall AS, DeAngelis MM. (2021) Pseudoexfoliation and Cataract Syndrome Associated with Genetic and Epidemiological Factors in a Mayan Cohort of Guatemala. International journal of environmental research and public health (Jul), 18(14). doi:10.3390/ijerph18147231
- Fard AM, Reynolds AL, Lillvis JH, Nader ND. (2020) Corneal collagen cross-linking in pediatric keratoconus with three protocols: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (Dec), 24(6): 331-336.
- Lillvis JH, Lillvis DF, Towle-Miller LM, Wilding GE, Kuo DZ. (2020) Association of state vision screening requirements with parent-reported vision testing in young children. Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (Oct), 24(5): 291.e1-291.e6.
- Mishra M, Lillvis J, Seyoum B, Kowluru RA, Lillvis JH. (2016) Peripheral Blood Mitochondrial DNA Damage as a Potential Noninvasive Biomarker of Diabetic Retinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci (Jan), 57(10): 4035-4044.
- Hinterseher I, Schworer CM, Lillvis JH, Stahl E, Erdman R, Gatalica Z, Tromp G, Kuivaniemi H. (2015) Immunohistochemical analysis of the natural killer cell cytotoxicity pathway in human abdominal aortic aneurysms. Int J Mol Sci (May), 16(5): 11196-11212.
- Ryer EJ, Ronning KE, Erdman R, Schworer CM, Elmore JR, Peeler TC, Nevius CD, Lillvis JH, Garvin RP, Franklin DP, Kuivaniemi H, Tromp G. (2015) The potential role of DNA methylation in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Int J Mol Sci (May), 16(5): 11259-11275.
- Pahl MC, Erdman R, Kuivaniemi H, Lillvis JH, Elmore JR, Tromp G. (2015) Transcriptional (ChIP-Chip) Analysis of ELF1, ETS2, RUNX1 and STAT5 in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. Int J Mol Sci (May), 16(5): 11229-11258.
- Glick AF, Song YS, Hwang B, Lillvis J, Zanzonico P, Fuchs C, Pearse RN, Szabo P, Weksler ME, Lillvis JH. (2013) Age matters:  Young T lymphocytes offer better protection from myeloma proliferation. Immun Ageing (Feb), 10(1): 5-5.
- Hinterseher I, Erdman R, Elmore JR, Stahl E, Pahl MC, Derr K, Golden A, Lillvis JH, Cindric MC, Jackson K, Bowen WD, Schworer CM, Chernousov MA, Franklin DP, Gray JL, Garvin RP, Gatalica Z, Carey DJ, Tromp G, Kuivaniemi H. (2012) Novel pathways in the pathobiology of human abdominal aortic aneurysms. Pathobiology (Jul), 80(1): 1-10.
- Hinterseher I, Erdman R, Donoso LA, Vrabec TR, Schworer CM, Lillvis JH, Boddy AM, Derr K, Golden A, Bowen WD, Gatalica Z, Tapinos N, Elmore JR, Franklin DP, Gray JL, Garvin RP, Gerhard GS, Carey DJ, Tromp G, Kuivaniemi H. (2011) Role of complement cascade in abdominal aortic aneurysms. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol (Jul), 31(7): 1653-1660.
- Lillvis JH, Erdman R, Schworer CM, Golden A, Derr K, Gatalica Z, Cox LA, Shen J, Vander Heide RS, Lenk GM, Hlavaty L, Li L, Elmore JR, Franklin DP, Gray JL, Garvin RP, Carey DJ, Lancaster WD, Tromp G, Kuivaniemi H. (2011) Regional expression of HOXA4 along the aorta and its potential role in human abdominal aortic aneurysms. BMC Physiol (May), 11: 9-9.
- Lillvis JH, Kyo Y, Tromp G, Lenk GM, Li M, Lu Q, Igo RP, Sakalihasan N, Ferrell RE, Schworer CM, Gatalica Z, Land S, Kuivaniemi H. (2011) Analysis of positional candidate genes in the AAA1 susceptibility locus for abdominal aortic aneurysms on chromosome 19. BMC Med Genet (Jan), 12: 14-14.
- Lillvis JH, Lanfear DE. (2010) Progress toward genetic tailoring of heart failure therapy. Curr Opin Mol Ther (Jun), 12(3): 294-304.
- Boddy AM, Lenk GM, Lillvis JH, Nischan J, Kyo Y, Kuivaniemi H. (2008) Basic research studies to understand aneurysm disease. Drug News Perspect (Apr), 21(3): 142-148.
- Szabo P, Li F, Mathew J, Matthew J, Lillvis J, Weksler ME, Lillvis JH. (2004) Evolution of B-cell clonal expansions with age. Cell Immunol (Sep), 231(1-2): 158-167.
- Barr JL, Feehan M, Tak C, Owen LA, Finley RC, Cromwell PA, Lillvis JH, Hicks PM, Au E, Farkas MH, Weiner A, Reynolds AL, Sieminski SF, Sherva RM, Munger MA, Brilliant MH, DeAngelis MM. Wang, J., Cheng, X., Liang, Q., Owen, L. A., Wang, M., DeAngelis, M. M., Li, Y., Chen, R. (1900) Heritable risk and protective genetic components of glaucoma medication medication non-adherence. Int J of Molecular Sciences (Jan)
- Orozco LD, Owen LA, Hoffman J, Stockwell AD, Tao J, Haller S, Mukundan VT, Clarke C, Lund J, Sridhar A, Mayba O, Barr JL, John H. Lillvis, Farkas MH, Shakoor A, Sherva RM, Kim IK, Kaminker JS, Townsend JM, Farrer LA, Yaspan BL, Chen H-H, DeAngelis MM. (1900) A systems biology approach uncovers novel disease mechanisms in age-related macular degeneration. Cell Genomics (Jan)
- John H Lillvis, Michael Feehan, Treefa Shwani, Amy E Millen, Gregory E Wilding, Karen M Allison, Leah A Owen, Margaret M DeAngelis. (1900) Strabismus and Strabismus Surgery in the U.S. Veterans Health Administration: Foundational Analyses of Electronic Health Record Data from 2000-2022. Journal of Personalized Medicine (Jan)
- Qingnan Liang; Xuesen Cheng; Jun Wang; Leah Owen; Akbar Shakoor; John L. Lillvis; Charles Zhang; Michael Farkas; Ivana K. Kim; Yumei Li; Margaret DeAngelis; Rui Chen. (1900) A multi-omics atlas of the human retina at single-cell resolution. (Jan)
- Qingnan Liang, Xuesen Cheng, Jun Wang, Leah Owen, Akbar Shakoor, John L. Lillvis, Charles Zhang, Michael Farkas, Ivana K. Kim, Yumei Li, Margaret DeAngelis, Rui Chen. (1900) A multi-omics atlas of the human retina at single-cell resolution. Genome Biology (Jan)
- Zhang, C., Barr, J. L., Owen, L. A., Shakoor, A., Vitale, A. T., Lillvis, J. H., Cromwell, P., Husami, N., Finley, R., Ammar, D., Au, E., Haider, N. B., Zavala, R. A., Graves, E. C., Li, M., Tawfik, A., Zhang, S. X., Stambolian, D., Farkas, M. H., Kim, I. K., Sherva, R. M., Farrer, L. A., & DeAngelis, M. M. (1900) Patterns of gene expression and allele-specific expression vary among macular tissues and clinical stages of Age-related Macular Degeneration. Plos Genetics (Jan)
Evaluative Studies and Case Reports:
- Baltaj Sandhur, Charles Zhang, John H Lillvis. (2024) Corneal manifestations of xeroderma pigmentosa in a heavily pigmented patient. Journal of Ophthalmic Research and Practice (Dec) doi:10.25259
Professional Memberships:
- Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology; Member (2023–present)
- American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; Member in Training from 2017-2020, Full member from 03/2020. (2017–present)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology; Member of AAO. (2013–present)
Presentations:
- "An Update on Pediatric Vision Screening: Guidelines, Regulations, and Real-World Data" University at Buffalo Depart of Pediatrics Grand Rounds (2024)
- "Pediatric Diabetic Eye Disease" Presentation on Diabetic Eye Disease in Pediatric Patients to the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology at UB (2024)
- "“Big Data” Electronic Health Records Analysis of Strabismus in Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration." 2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Conference (2024)
- "Characterization of Strabismus and Strabismus Surgery in the National Veterans Health Administration between 2000 and 2022" Translational Science 2024 (2024)
- "Epidemiology of Strabismus in the Veterans Health Administration Population" AAPOS 2023 Meeting (2023)
- "Allele Specific Expression as an Underlying Mechanism in Complex Ocular Diseases" International Society for Eye Research (2023)
- "Ocular Trauma: Pearls and Pitfalls" University at Buffalo Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds (2021)
- "Inherited Retinal Degenerations. Practical Lessons from a Pediatrics Perspective." Northeast Regional Orthoptic Meeting; American Association of Certified Orthoptists (2019)
- "Vision Screening: Methods and Policies" Ross Eye Institute Annual June Conference; Ross Eye Institute/University at Buffalo (2019)
- "Effects of State Variation in Vision Screening Policy on Likelihood of Vision Screening in Children Ages Three to Five" The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (2019)
- "Genetic Mutations and Visual Acuity in Children with Leber Congenital Amaurosis" The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; Genetic Mutations and Visual Acuity in Children with Leber Congenital Amaurosis (2017)
- "Risk of complications and ptosis recurrence by suture material in pediatric frontalis sling surgery" The American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; Risk of complications and ptosis recurrence by suture material in pediatric frontalis sling surgery (2016)
- "Mitochondrial DNA Damage as a Possible Biomarker of Diabetic Retinopathy" The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology; The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (2015)
- "Regional Expression of HOXA4 along the Aorta and its Potential Role in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms" Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Epidemiology, Genetics, and Pathophysiology; Geisinger Clinic (2011)
- "HOXA4 Exhibits Differential Expression in Aortic Tissue by Region and Disease State" Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (2010)
- "Analysis of Chromosome 19 Candidate Interval, the AAA1 Susceptibility Locus for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms" International Meeting on Aortic Aneurysms (2008)
Service Activities:
- Interviewed applicants for UB Ophthalmology Residency over Zoom and participated in Ranking 2023, 2024; Resident Interviewer (2023–present)
- Journals in 2023 include BMC Medical Genomics, Data in Brief, Molecular and Cellular Pediatrics, JAAPOS; Invited reviewer (2023)
- ; Reviewer for PLOS One (2020–2023)
- FPMP Governing Board Member or Alternate. Attend meetings of board to represent the department in oversight of the practice plans.; member (2020–present)
- Vision Screening Committee member Member of Vision Screening Committee for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; Presenter at Accepted Workshop at 2025 AAPOS Meeting.; Committee Member/Workshop Member (2019–present)
- Young Ophthalmologists Committee Member Member of Young Ophthalmologists Committee for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; Committee Member (2018–2022)
- Faculty Council for the Jacobs School of Medicine; Member (2018–present)