Study Explores Effects of S1P Receptor Modulation on the Retina

Study Explores Effects of S1P Receptor Modulation on the Retina

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 […]

Margret Reynolds, MD, Receives Prestigious NIH K23 Award for Groundbreaking Research on Refractive Surgery in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Margret Reynolds, MD, Receives Prestigious NIH K23 Award for Groundbreaking Research on Refractive Surgery in Autism Spectrum Disorder

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 […]

Welcome Alexander Lyss, OD

Welcome Alexander Lyss, OD

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 […]

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Kathryn Flaharty, MD

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Kathryn Flaharty, MD

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 […]

Groundbreaking Study Reveals How lncRNA Evf2 Guides Forebrain Interneuron Development

Groundbreaking Study Reveals How lncRNA Evf2 Guides Forebrain Interneuron Development

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

Science in Focus: Art Beyond the Microscope

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. […]

Understanding Uveitis: Causes, Treatments & Hope for the Future

Understanding Uveitis: Causes, Treatments & Hope for the Future

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 […]

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Olivia Cummings, MD, MSc

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 […]

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Krishna Mallem, MD

Featured Fellows and Residents Spotlight: Krishna Mallem, MD

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 […]

First-of-Its-Kind Apte Lab Study Links Retinal Microglia to Circadian Rhythms

First-of-Its-Kind Apte Lab Study Links Retinal Microglia to Circadian Rhythms

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, […]

2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony

2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony

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, […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Deena Shaath, MD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Deena Shaath, MD

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 Deena Shaath,MD. Graduating Fellow: Deena Shaath, MD What are your future plans? I’m moving to Orlando for a private practice job! Why did you choose Ophthalmology and Cornea? Ophthalmology […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Howard Chen, MD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Howard Chen, MD

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 Howard Chen, MD. Graduating Resident: Howard Chen, MD What are your plans for the future? Cataract and refractive surgery fellowship. Why did you choose Ophthalmology/WashU Medicine?  I chose WashU […]

Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning Revolutionize the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS)

Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning Revolutionize the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS)

Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning to Reanalyze OHTS Data | Leveraging Modern Techniques to Enhance Glaucoma Risk Assessment July 2, 2025 – St. Louis, MO: A new publication in JAMA Ophthalmology led by James C. Liu, MD, glaucoma specialist at WashU Medicine, highlights the transformative potential of deep learning and artificial intelligence […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA

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 Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA. Graduating Resident: Mary-Grace Reeves, MD, MBA What are your future plans? Vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute. Why did you choose Ophthalmology/WashU […]

Ophthalmology Residents Honored with 2025 Friend of the ED Award

Ophthalmology Residents Honored with 2025 Friend of the ED Award

We are excited to share some fantastic news: the Department of Ophthalmology residents have been named the 2025 recipients of the Friend of the ED Award! Each year, Emergency Medicine (EM) residents vote on the specialty that has gone above and beyond in supporting their training. This award recognizes excellence in collaboration, education, and clinical […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Aaditya Shah, MD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Aaditya Shah, MD

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 Aaditya Shah, MD. Graduating Fellow: Aaditya Shah, MD What are your future plans? Starting private practice in the Chicagoland area, specifically the Northwest Indiana suburbs. Why did you choose […]

Understanding the Impact of Glaucoma Diagnosis on Mental Health

Understanding the Impact of Glaucoma Diagnosis on Mental Health

St. Louis, MO – June 18, 2025 – A recent study published in JAMA Ophthalmology sheds light on the correlation between the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and the mental health decline in patients who were previously diagnosed with ocular hypertension. Conducted as part of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, this research underscores the imperative […]

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Matthew Elitt, MD, PhD

Residents and Fellows Spotlight: Matthew Elitt, MD, PhD

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 Matthew Elitt, MD, PhD. Graduating Chief of Ophthalmic Trauma: Matthew Elitt, MD, PhD What are your future plans? Vitreo-retinal surgical fellowship at the University of Michigan Why did you […]