A striking microscopic image of the human eye by Pooja Rathaur, PhD of WashU Medicine has been recognized as an Image of Distinction in the 2026 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Competition. Pooja Rathaur, PhD—a postdoctoral fellow in the Bassnett Lab Rathaur’s image, “Zonular fibers bridging the lens and ciliary body of the human eye,” highlights […]
Three researchers from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences have been selected to participate in the Center for Regenerative Medicine Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholars Program. Ismael Hernández-Núñez, PhD, Hunter Aliff, PhD and Alexis Crockett, PhD were awarded spots in the program, which supports professional development and career advancement in […]
Researchers at the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences are developing an innovative approach to visual acuity testing with modified eyeglasses designed to improve exam efficiency, stability and accuracy. Developed by ophthalmology residents Glory Mgboji, MD and John Wilson, MD the device offers a hands-free alternative to traditional eye […]
The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences recently welcomed Xin Zhang, PhD, Malcolm P. Aldrich professor at Columbia University, as the David C. Beebe Lecturer. Zhang presented his lecture called “Winning the Niche: Cell Competition Shapes Ocular Development.” The lecture honors the legacy of scientific curiosity, discovery and mentorship […]
Michael Paley, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine and ophthalmology and visual sciences at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, has received his first R01 grant from the National Eye Institute (NEI) to investigate the connection between intestinal inflammation and uveitis, a group of inflammatory eye diseases that can […]
WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences faculty member Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD was selected to deliver the APVRS International Award Lecture 2026 during the 19th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS), held August 28–30, 2026. For his award lecture, “From Mechanisms to Medicine: Translating Scientific Discoveries into Patient Care,” Apte […]
Aaron Y. Lee, MD, the Arthur W. Stickle Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and head of the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine, has received a $150,000 grant from Research to Prevent Blindness to support eye research in the department. Research to Prevent Blindness is a nonprofit organization that […]
Carla Siegfried, MD, professor of ophthalmology at the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, delivered the 2026 Robert Miller Memorial Lecture during Northwestern University’s Annual Paul Knepper Northwestern Ophthalmology and Vision Research Day on June 26. Siegfried’s lecture, “From Bedside to Bench… The Story of Oxygen and Insights into […]
Researchers from WashU Medicine and the California Medical Innovations Institute (CALMI) have earned first place in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Data Sharing Index (S-Index) Challenge, receiving a $400,000 prize for developing an innovative framework to recognize and reward high-quality biomedical data sharing. The team developed Scholar Data, a simple and field-aware s-index for […]
Researchers from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences have published a collaborative study in Scientific Reports that provides new insights into how inherited retinal diseases disrupt the organization of the retina and its blood vessels. The study, titled “Altered retinal cellular architecture and neurovasculature in CRX-associated retinopathy mouse […]
Mae Gordon, PhD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and colleagues recently published a study in JAMA Ophthalmology titled, “Diagnosis of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Mental Health Status.” The study examined the relationship between a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma and patients’ mental health status, contributing to […]
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. […]
New article highlights the opportunities and challenges of leveraging large healthcare datasets to advance patient care Cecilia S. Lee, MD, MS, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, recently published an article titled, “Uses and Abuses of Big Data in Ophthalmology Research” examining both the promise and potential pitfalls of utilizing large-scale healthcare data in […]
Research highlights the potential diagnostic value of the newly described “Y-sign” in patients with optic nerve hypoplasia Jonathon Tong, MD, resident, and colleagues from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences recently published a study titled, “Characterization of a Novel MRI Sign of the Optic Chiasm in Patients With […]
National presentations highlight expertise in health policy and glaucoma care Carla J. Siegfried, MD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, recently delivered invited presentations at two national ophthalmology meetings, sharing expertise on healthcare access and advancements in glaucoma treatment. On May 23, Siegfried presented “Medicaid Funding Cuts: […]
Award supports development of immune-based therapies for blinding retinal disease Poonam Naik, PhD, a researcher in the Apte Lab within the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, has received the Loris and David Rich Postdoctoral Scholar Award from International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) to study novel immune-based therapies for neovascular age-related macular […]
Research identifies clinical factors that may help guide treatment decisions and improve patient counseling Researchers from the Apte Lab in the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine, including residents, medical students, and undergraduate trainees under the mentorship of Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD., recently published a clinically relevant […]
The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine proudly announces the winners of the 2026 Winston Fellow Competition. This annual event showcases outstanding research contributions from postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the award recipients. Winners of the 2026 Winston Fellow Awards ITVS Graduate […]
The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is celebrating national recognition for its innovative surgical simulation lab, which recently received a 2026 Lab Design Award for user engagement. Designed in partnership with HKW Architects, the space was recognized for its collaborative, learner-centered design that supports advanced surgical training and […]
NIH Replication Prize: Shape the future of rigorous and replicable science. Researchers at WashU Medicine, along with collaborators, were recognized by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with a Replication Prize (Track 2: Replication Exemplars) for developing a framework to improve the speed and reproducibility of electronic health record (EHR)-based research, a form of clinical […]