Study identifies critical role of epigenetic regulation in rod photoreceptor specification Ismael Hernández-Núñez, PhD, researcher in the Clark lab at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and his laboratory recently published “Active DNA demethylation upstream of rod-photoreceptor fate determination is required for retinal development”. The study uncovers how changes […]
This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Sharon Sabapathypillai, MD, MS. Incoming Glaucoma Fellow: Sharon Sabapathypillai, MD, MS Where are you from? Cape Girardeau, MO Where did you attend Medical School? University of Missouri-Kansas City Why […]
St. Louis, MO – September 10, 2025 – WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is spotlighting advances in corneal regeneration, offering new hope for patients living with vision impairment due to corneal scars and opacities. Corneal scars and opacities—often caused by trauma, infection, or chemical injury—are a leading cause […]
Dear Friends of WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Returning to St. Louis after more than a decade truly feels like coming home. This community has always held a special place for my family, and Cecilia and I are deeply grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received. We are […]
We are excited to announce that Takeshi Yoshimatsu, PhD has received his first R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)! This prestigious five-year grant, which began on July 1, 2025, will support groundbreaking research titled: “Visual Feature Competition Between Central and Peripheral Retinal Pathways.” Why This Research Matters “Eye fixation is a critical […]
Autophagy Regulates Müller Glial Cell Inflammatory Activation A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science highlights the critical role of autophagy—the body’s process of recycling proteins—in regulating inflammation within the retina. The research, led by Thomas Ferguson, PhD, and Philip Ruzycki, PhD, from the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual […]
This Research Insight covers a series of studies supported by Mae Gordon, PhD and Michael Kass, MD that highlights the impact of a long-term clinical study, the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS). Together, this research—spanning more than 20 years—has revolutionized the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), its treatment, and patient outcomes. In this series […]
One of the most common questions we hear from patients considering LASIK is: “Will I still need reading glasses afterward?” Stephen Wexler, MD, LASIK surgeon at WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center, explains that the answer depends largely on your age and your vision goals. Under 40: Freedom From Glasses If you’re under 40 and choose […]
This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Jessica Sun, MD. Incoming Resident: Jessica Sun, MD Where are you from? Montreal, Canada and Potomac, Maryland Where did you attend Medical School? Harvard Medical School Favorite memory of […]
St. Louis, MO — August 27, 2025 — Researchers at the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Neurology have published new findings on the effects of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulation on the human retina. The study, led by the Apte Lab and published […]
St. Louis, MO – August 26, 2025 – John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine is proud to announce that Margret Reynolds, MD, has been awarded a highly competitive K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award supports early-career clinician-scientists who […]
The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine welcomes Alexander Lyss, OD, to the clinical team. Lyss brings a unique background and a strong commitment to patient-centered eye care. Before pursuing optometry, Lyss worked as a chemist—but soon realized he wanted a career that allowed him to connect more […]
This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Kathryn Flaharty, MD. Incoming Resident: Kathryn Flaharty, MD Where are you from? Fort Myers, Florida Where did you attend Medical School? University of Michigan Medical School Favorite memory of […]
AUGUST 2025 – ST. LOUIS, MO — Brian Clark, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and colleagues have published a new study titled “Single-cell transcriptomics of ventral forebrain progenitors identifies Evf2 enhancer lncRNA–enhancer gene guidance through direct RNA binding and RNP recruitment domains”. This work provides new insights into how long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) […]
Science in Focus: Art Beyond the Microscope, a science as art competition! We invite all vision science researchers to participate in this unique competition, where science and art intersect to reveal the beauty within scientific research. Purpose and Goals Our goal is to celebrate the beauty of science and engage the community in its impact. […]
Uveitis might sound like a rare eye condition, but it affects thousands of people each year—causing discomfort, vision problems, and concern for long-term eye health. If you’ve recently been diagnosed or are supporting a loved one with uveitis, here’s what you need to know about the condition, its causes, treatment options, and why there’s real […]
This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc. Incoming Resident: Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc Where are you from? New York Where did you attend Medical School? The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown […]
This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Krishna Mallem, MD. Incoming Resident: Krishna Mallem, MD Where are you from? Plainsboro, New Jersey Where did you attend Medical School? Drexel University College of Medicine Favorite memory of […]
A Novel Insight Into Eye Immunity and Circadian Biology Charles Pfeifer, PhD, a former graduate student and postdoctoral researcher, Andrea Santeford, MS, supervisor in the Apte Lab at WashU Medicine, and Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, have published a landmark study in the journal Glia. The paper, […]
WashU Medicine’s John F. Hardesty Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences proudly celebrated the achievements of its outstanding students, residents, fellows, and faculty during the 2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony, held on Saturday, June 21. Hosted by Department Chair Todd Margolis, MD, PhD, the ceremony highlighted the academic and clinical accomplishments of the Class of 2025, […]