Biography

J. William Harbour, M.D., is Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in ocular oncology. 

Dr. Harbour earned his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University and completed a residency in ophthalmology at the Wills Eye Hospital of Thomas Jefferson University. He received advanced training through a fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami, a fellowship in ocular oncology at the University of California, San Francisco, and research training in molecular oncology at Washington University in St. Louis.

Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2021.

Previously, Dr. Harbour held the Dr. Mark J. Daily, M.D., Endowed Chair at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where he also served as Director of Ocular Oncology and Vice Chair for Translational Research. He also served as Associate Director for Basic Science at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Miami.

Dr. Harbour’s clinical interests focus on ocular tumors such as uveal melanoma, retinoblastoma, and lymphoma. He has trained many residents and fellows and pioneered new surgical methods in fine needle biopsy, laser treatment, and brachytherapy of ocular tumors. He also has been awarded patents for innovations in genetic prognostic testing for uveal melanoma.

His research interests include the use of genetic and genomic technologies to better understand, diagnose, and treat eye cancers. His team discovered three of the most important genomic drivers of metastasis in uveal melanoma, as well as key genomic events in retinoblastoma. His contributions to the field have been recognized by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s Cogan Award and the Macula Society’s Paul Henkind and Rosenthal Awards, among many others.

Dr. Harbour has delivered more than 300 invited scientific lectures and published more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters.

He is an Associate Editor for Melanoma Research and has served on the editorial boards of Archives of Ophthalmology, Translational Vision Science & Technology, Melanoma Management, Expert Review of Ophthalmology, and Faculty of 1000.

Dr. Harbour is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Association of American Physicians, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for Cancer Research, and American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists and Pathologists, and he is the founder of the Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group.

Education

Medical School
Johns Hopkins University (1990)
Internship
Greater Baltimore Medical Center (1991), Internal Medicine
Residency
Wills Eye Hospital (1994), Ophthalmology
Fellowship
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (1995), Retina
Fellowship
University of California San Francisco (1996), Ocular Oncology Pathology
Research Fellowship
Washington University School of Medicine (1999), Molecular Oncology

Research Interest

  • Ocular Oncology
  • Retinoblastoma
  • Uveal Melanoma

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Books

Featured Books Legend Featured Books

Cellular and Genetic Events in Retinal Tumorigenesis. In Clinical Ocular Oncology, 2nd Edition

Dyer MA, Harbour JW (2014). Elsevier

Intraocular Lymphoma. In Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, 4th Edition

Echegaray JJ, Harbour JW (2021). Springer

Choroidal Nevus and Melanocytoma. In Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, 4th Edition

Alhumaid S, Harbour JW (2020). Springer

Intraocular Lymphoma. In Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, 4th Edition

Echegaray JJ, Harbour JW (2020). Springer

Intraocular Lymphoma. In The Retina Illustrated, 2nd Edition

Paez-Escamilla M, Andreoli M, Harbour JW (2019). Thieme Publishers

Initial management of uveal and conjunctival melanomas. In UpToDate (https://www.uptodate.com/contents/initial-management-of-uveal-and-conjunctival-melanomas?csi=6b3b6b40-70aa-4e13-b4f3-20d893aa7f57&source=contentShare#H4241265126)

Harbour JW, Shih HA (2018).

Intraocular Lymphoma: A Clinical Approach. In The Retina Illustrated, 1st Edition

Paez-Escamilla M, Andreoli M, Harbour JW (2018). Thieme Publishers

Genomics and Precision Medicine in the Management of Ocular Tumors. In Vitreoretinal Surgical Techniques, 3rd Edition

Paez-Escamilla M, Walter S, Harbour JW (2018). CRC Press

Uveal Melanoma. In Encyclopedia of Cancer, 4th Edition

Ehlers JP, Harbour JW (2017). Berlin Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag

Retinoblastoma: Clinical and Molecular Perspectives. In The Molecular Basis of Human Cancer, 2nd Edition

Harbour JW, Walter SD (2015). Springer

Molecular Biology of Retinoblastoma. In Recent Advances in Retinoblastoma Treatment

Walter SD, Harbour JW (2015). Springer

Second Primary Tumors in Retinoblastoma. In Orbital Tumors: Diagnosis and Treatment, 2nd Edition

Harbour JW. Mohsenin A (2014). Springer

Cancer Genetics. In Clinical Ocular Oncology 2nd Edition

Harbour JW, Chao DL (2013). Springer

Honors & Awards

  • Alcon Research Award
    (2016)
  • Retina Research Foundation/Kayser Global Award
    Given by the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology for breakthroughs in genetic and genomic research (2015)
  • Paul Henkind Memorial Award and Lecture
    Macula Society (for outstanding retinal researcher) (2014)
  • Senior Scientific Investigator
    Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. (2014)
  • Silver Fellow
    ARVO (2014)
  • Honor Award
    American Society of Retina Specialists (2013)
  • Shaler Richardson, MD Service to Medicine Award
    Florida Society of Ophthalmology (for personal contribution to quality patient care by collaborating and integrating ophthalmology into the medical profession on a national level) (2013)
  • Senior Achievement Award
    AAO (2012)
  • Research Award
    Ocular Melanoma Foundation (2011)
  • Rosenthal Award
    Macula Society (for an individual under 50 years of age whose work gives high promise of a notable advance in the clinical treatment of disorders of the eye) (2008)
  • Teacher of the Year Award in Research
    DOVS, Washington University (2007)
  • Cogan Award
    ARVO (for a researcher <40 years of age who has made important contributions to research in ophthalmology/visual science) (2005)
  • Achievement Award
    AAO (2003)
  • Physician-Scientist Award
    Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. (2002)
  • Heed-Knapp Ophthalmic Fellowship
    UC San Francisco (1995-1996)
  • Heed Ophthalmic Foundation Fellowship
    Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (1994-1995)
  • Housestaff Research Award
    Greater Baltimore Medical Center (1991)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
    Johns Hopkins University (1990)
  • Paul Ehrlich Clinical Research Award
    Johns Hopkins University (1990)
  • Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
    Johns Hopkins University (1990)
  • Phi Eta Sigma Academic Scholarship
    Johns Hopkins University (1985)
  • Summa Cum Laude
    Texas A&M University (1985)
  • Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society
    Texas A&M University (1984)
  • Phi Lambda Upsilon Chemistry Honor Society
    Texas A&M University (1984)
  • Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society
    Texas A&M University (1983)
  • Academic Scholarships
    Texas A&M University (1982-1984)
  • Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society
    Texas A&M University (1982)
  • University Honors Program
    Texas A&M University (1982-1985)
  • Dean's Honor Roll
    Texas A&M University (1981-1985)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology (1991)
  • American Association for Cancer Research (1996)
  • American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists & Pathologists (2000)
  • American Ophthalmological Society (2014)
  • American Society of Retina Specialists (1996)
  • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (1992)
  • Association of American Physicians (2010)
  • Collaborative Ocular Oncology Group (2007)
  • International Society of Ocular Oncology (1998)
  • Macula Society (1999)
  • Retina Society (1998)
  • Society for Melanoma Research (2010)
  • Society of Heed Fellows (1996)