Sean McCracken honored with 2024 NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award

Sean McCracken honored with 2024 NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award

Sean McCracken, a Neuroscience PhD candidate in the William’s Lab, has been selected as an award recipient for the 2024 NIH Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award Program (OSNAP). This prestigious honor recognizes Sean’s exceptional research and scientific training, highlighting him as a rising star in the neuroscience community. About the OSNAP Award The Outstanding Scholars […]

Dr. Tychsen: Leading the Way in Refractive Surgery for Special Needs Children

Dr. Tychsen Leading the Way in Refractive Surgery for Special Needs Children

We are proud to spotlight Dr. Tychsen, a distinguished member of the Washington University Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, for his recent contributions to the field of pediatric ophthalmology. On May 4th, Dr. Tychsen delivered an impactful lecture on “Refractive Surgery for Special Needs Children” at the Texas Ophthalmological Association’s 2024 Annual Meeting. His […]

Repurposed drug may help stabilize vision in rare disease (Links to an external site)

Repurposed drug may help stabilize vision in rare disease

Ophthalmologist Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, (right), of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, examines patient Patricia Collins (left) while medical student Wilson Wang observes. Collins is a participant in a clinical trial that tests the safety and efficacy of an FDA-approved drug in stabilizing vision in patients with RVCL-S, a rare genetic […]

WashU Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Receives Prestigious RPB Grant for Eye Research

WashU Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Receives Prestigious RPB Grant for Eye Research

We are delighted to announce that the Washington University Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences has been awarded a prestigious Unrestricted Grant from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB). This grant, amounting to $115,000 annually, will significantly bolster the department’s ongoing eye research efforts. Recognition of Excellence The Unrestricted Grant from RPB is a testament to […]

2nd Annual Winston Fellow Competition Winners

2nd Annual Winston Fellow Competition Winners

We are thrilled to announce the winners of Washington University John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) 2nd Annual Winston Fellow Competition. This event showcased DOVS students and postdocs presenting their cutting-edge research, competing for the esteemed Winston Fellow Awards in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. About the Winston Fellow Awards The […]

Yoshimatsu Receives Seed Grant from Brain Research Foundation

Yoshimatsu Receives Seed Grant from Brain Research Foundation

Dr. Takeshi Yoshimatsu Receives Brain Research Foundation Seed Grant for Groundbreaking Zebrafish Study on Visual Attention St. Louis, MO — June 6, 2024 — Takeshi Yoshimatsu,PhD, an Assistant Professor in the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WashU Medicine) has been awarded […]

Washington University Faculty Member to Keynote at Prestigious Ophthalmology Conference

WashU Medicine's Dr. Rajendra Apte receives $35,000 research grant award from the Macula Society

We are excited to announce that Dr. Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, will be the keynote speaker at the 14th Annual CWRU/University Hospitals Department of Ophthalmology Research Day 2024. Keynote Presentation by Dr. Rajendra Apte Dr. Apte will be delivering a keynote address titled “Novel Insights […]

Gordon Research Conference 2024: Establishing Form and Function in the Eye and Visual Brain

Gordon Research Conference 2024: Establishing Form and Function in the Eye and Visual Brain

Unlocking the Mysteries of Vision: GRC Visual System Development Conference The 2024 Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on Visual System Development, themed “Establishing Form and Function in the Eye and Visual Brain,” took place from May 19 to 24, 2024. This prestigious international scientific gathering will be hosted in a remote location to foster a sense […]

Medical Student Wilson Wang and Resident Maggie Xing Publish Key Article on Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy in JAMA Ophthalmology

Medical student Wilson Wang and resident physician Maggie Xing, MD, have made significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology with their recent publication in JAMA Ophthalmology “Interventions for Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy,” co-authored with renowned expert Raj Apte, MD, PhD. Their article provides a comprehensive clinical synopsis and educational review of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), a serious complication […]

Exploring Retinal Biomarkers in Huntington Disease: A Groundbreaking Study

Optovue OCTA image of macula with superficial retinal capillary plexus overlay.

In a significant leap forward for neurodegenerative disease research, Retina fellow Aaditya Shah, MD has published an excellent study titled, “Dark Adaptometry and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Huntington Disease.” This pioneering research is among the first to indicate that retinal biomarkers may be present in patients with Huntington Disease (HD), offering a potentially transformative […]

Advancing Retinal Disease Research: Dr. Chen’s New Project on hiPSC-induced Retinal Organoids

Shiming Chen, PhD

We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Shiming Chen has been awarded a Seed grant from the Center of Regenerative Medicine for her groundbreaking project titled “hiPSC-induced retinal organoids modeling CRX-linked retinopathies.” This pioneering research aims to establish three-dimensional retinal organoids—essentially human retinas in a dish—to model inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) linked to the cone-rod-homeobox (CRX) […]

WashU Ophthalmology at ARVO 2024

WashU Ophthalmology at ARVO 2024

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is at the forefront of advancing global research aimed at unraveling the complexities of the visual system and combatting its disorders. From May 5th to May 9th, visionaries and experts congregated in Seattle, Washington, for the ARVO 2024 Annual Meeting, a pivotal event showcasing the latest […]

Advancing Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Care: Insights from the 49th Annual AAPOS Meeting

The field of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus continues to evolve, driven by dedicated professionals committed to enhancing the quality of eye care for children and adults alike. One prominent organization at the forefront of these efforts is the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). With a mission centered on advancing care, supporting education, […]

Congrats, Matt Elitt, MD, PhD!

Matt Elitt and Paul Tesar

Congratulations to WashU Ophthalmology Resident, Matt Elitt, MD, PhD and Case Western Reserve’s Tesar Lab colleagues, on the advancement of ION356 to a phase I human clinical trial. Dr. Elitt’s doctoral research published in Nature demonstrated a novel method to pharmacologically target the pathology of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), representing the first potential treatment option for patients and […]

Linking Cholesterol, NAD+ Depletion, and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

New Research Uncovers the Role of Cholesterol Accumulation in Retinal Degeneration

We are thrilled to announce the publication of a groundbreaking study titled “LXR/CD38 Activation Drives Cholesterol-Induced Macrophage Senescence and Neurodegeneration via NAD+ Depletion“, authored by Ryo Terao, MD, PhD; Mitsukuni Yoshida, MD, PhD; Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD; and colleagues from the Apte Lab. In this study, our researchers unveil critical molecular mechanisms linking dysregulated cholesterol […]

Charles Pfeifer Wins the Prestigious 2024 Dr. Philip Needleman Pharmacology Award

We are thrilled to announce Charles Pfeifer as the distinguished recipient of the highly acclaimed 2024 Dr. Philip Needleman Pharmacology Award. This honor is bestowed upon a graduating student who has exhibited exceptional accomplishments in the field of Pharmacology. Founded in 1991 by Ms. Sima Needleman in tribute to her husband’s unwavering dedication to scholarship […]

Recognizing Excellence in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Research: The Roger H. Johnson Award

Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent eye disease that affects millions of individuals aged 60 and older. Understanding the pathogenesis and developing effective treatments for this condition is crucial. In honor of Dr. Roger H. Johnson, an accomplished ophthalmologist and his dedication to advancing AMD research, the Roger H. Johnson Award was established. This […]

Call for Abstracts: Winston Fellow Award

Larval zebrafish head in pax6-DF4:mCFP transgenic line. Image credit: Takeshi Yoshimatsu

Apply Now for the Winston Fellow Award for Postdoctoral Fellows The Winston Fellow Award Program recognizes outstanding contributions to vision science. The ITVS Pathway overcomes boundaries between disciplines to develop a unique set of basic science, translational and professional skills that will position students to produce transformative breakthroughs in vision science. Students enrolled in the […]