In 2025, the Retina Society/IRRF Research and Education Fund and Grant Awards program recognized three awardees whose projects reflect the continued breadth of retinal research, from neuroprotective therapies and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics to the cellular mechanisms that support retinal vascular health The 2025 Retina Society/IRRF awardees are Colleen Cebulla, MD, PhD, of The Ohio State […]
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Colleen Cebulla, MD, PhD Ohio State University Vice Chair for Translational Research, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Dr. Paul A. Weber Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology Medical Retina-Ocular Oncology Fellowship Director Director, Lions Research Laboratory Director, Retinal Research Laboratory Project Title: Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors as Novel Neuroprotective Therapies in the Retina Dr Cebulla is a board-certified […]
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Parisa Emami-Naeini, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Director, Uveitis Service, Taschannen Eye Institute University of California Davis Project Title: Non-invasive Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Detection of Retinal Vascular Leakage and Vasculitis in Uveitis In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Emami-Naeini is a clinician-scientist with a strong interest in big data and AI research. She is […]
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Jeremy Lavine, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Medicine, (Rheumatology) Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Project Title: The Role of Choroidal Macrophages in Choriocapillaris Homeostasis Perivascular macrophages exist on blood vessels in the retina. In the brain, these cells are important for blood-brain barrier homeostasis, but almost nothing is known about these cells in the […]
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In 2023, 13 grant applications across the spectrum of basic, translational and clinical science were received for consideration for funding by the Research and Education Fund and Grant Awards program. All were carefully reviewed by a committee consisting of Jason Hsu, Nora Lad, Eric Nudleman, Susanna Park, Yannis Paulus, Charles Wycoff and David Zacks. The 2023 […]
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Andrew Browne, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology Gavin Herbert Eye Institute University of California Irvine Project Title: An Imaging Assay to Objectively Quantify Dark Adaptometry With a Gradient Photobleach Recovery Assay Rod-mediated dark adaptometry is the most reliable subjective assay of visual function that can distinguish normal aging from early and intermediate macular degeneration. This […]
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Thomas Wubben, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Science University of Michigan Project Title: Photoreceptor Protection Via Metabolic Targeting of the Integrated Stress Response Understanding the metabolic underpinnings that orchestrate stress pathway activation in photoreceptors is critical to creating innovative, therapeutic strategies for retinal degenerative diseases. This proposal will identify the link between metabolic […]
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Glenn Yiu, MD, PhD Director, Tele-Ophthalmology Professor, Department of Ophthalmology University of California Davis Project Title: Photoreceptor Reprogramming in an Optogenetic Model of Geographic Atrophy Chronic oxidative retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) damage in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to damage to rod photoreceptors and scotopic function loss in early disease, and later involve cones in […]
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