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 […]

Understanding Retinal Detachment: Insights from Dr. Rajendra S. Apte’s Recent Study

We are thrilled to share with you a remarkable article titled “Retinal Detachment: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options” co-authored by Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD. This enlightening study, published in the renowned journal Nature, explores the intricate details of retinal detachment, providing valuable insights into its causes, diagnosis methods, and available treatment options. In this […]

Refractive Surgery for ASD: Improving Social Behavior and Adaptive Functioning in Children with Profound Autism

We are excited to announce that Dr. Margaret Reynolds, a distinguished pediatric ophthalmologist at Washington University in St. Louis, has recently been awarded a grant from the Autism Science Foundation. This one-year grant, starting on February 1st, 2024, aims to explore the potential benefits of vision correction through refractive surgery for children with profound autism. […]

Congratulations, Dr. Margaret Reynolds!

Dr. Margaret M. Reynolds, a renowned researcher at Washington University, has recently been awarded an internal CTRFP grant titled “Phenotype After Refractive Surgery for Autism Spectrum Disorder.” This grant aims to support innovative research projects that can translate scientific discoveries into tangible improvements in human health. The grant, administered by the Institute of Clinical and […]

Congratulations, Dr. Walsh!

Precise and targeted healthcare interventions are invaluable in ensuring better outcomes for patients. Investing in innovative research to uncover biomarkers and personalized treatment approaches is at the heart of precision health. In this regard, we are pleased to highlight Dr. Walsh‘s recent achievement of receiving an internal grant from the ICTS – Precision Health Innovation […]

AMP Kinase Discovery in Photoreceptor Dysfunction by Tim Lee and Apte Lab

Catalytic isoforms of AMP-activated protein kinase differentially regulate IMPDH activity and photoreceptor neuron function

Graduate student Tim Lee from the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS), working in collaboration with the Apte Lab, has published a new paper revealing a significant discovery in the realm of photoreceptor dysfunction. The research, titled “Identification of IMPDH as a Therapeutically Modifiable Target of AMP Kinase in Rod Photoreceptors,” sheds light on […]

AMD Breakthrough: Uncovering Therapeutic Targets

Congratulations to MSTP Student Joseph Lin on Collaborative Breakthrough Publication in Cell Reports Medicine: Targeting cell-type-specific, choroid-peripheral immune signaling to treat age-related macular degeneration The Apte Lab is proud to announce the groundbreaking collaborative research publication by MSTP student Joseph Lin and the Ruzycki Lab. The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, addresses age-related macular […]

Congratulations, Dr. Mitsukuni Yoshida!

Mitsukuni Yoshida

Congratulations to Dr. Mitsukuni Yoshida from the Apte lab, who has been chosen by the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) as an Emerging-Generation (E-Gen) Awardee. The ASCI acknowledges post-MD, pre-faculty appointment physician-scientists actively involved in immersive research, providing them with access to the ASCI joint meeting and longitudinal programming over a 2-year period. Mitsu […]

Congratulations Viviana Barquet, MD!

Viviana Barquet

Viviana Barquet, MD selected for The TGF (sponsored by Patricia Hill) / RPB Fellowship in Glaucoma In a collaboration, The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF) and Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) have joined forces to champion diversity and innovation in the field of glaucoma research. This strategic partnership has selected Viviana Barquet, MD, as one of the […]

Catalyst Award for Innovative Research Approaches for AMD

Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD

We are thrilled to announce that Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD has recently been awarded a $300,000 Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB)/American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF) Catalyst Award for Innovative Research Approaches for AMD. This prestigious award serves as a testament to Dr. Apte’s commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of ophthalmology, particularly in the […]

Isabella Gomes Awarded Prestigious Research Fellowship!

In the ever-changing world of medical research, breakthroughs often emerge from the synergy of passion, intellect, and mentorship. One exciting project currently taking place in the Chen and Rajagopal Labs, where Isabella Gomes is set to embark on a groundbreaking journey! Isabella recently received the Research to Prevent Blindness/Janssen Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship. This […]

Apte Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation Award Recipient

Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD

Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences received an award from the Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation entitled ‘Cross-tissue Receptor Ligand Interactions to Identify Novel Targets in Neovascular AMD’. This grant will be used to fund studies that help us identify novel therapeutic targets in age-related macular […]

NIH RO1 Sub Award Grant Recipient!

Congratulations Dr. Ferguson! Dr. Ferguson recently received a sub award from a R01 that Dr. Vladimir Kefalov at the university of California, Irvine received entitled “Modulation of cone photoreceptor function by autophagy”. Autophagy is an intracellular process that supports cell survival through the recycling of macromolecular complexes by the removal of nonfunctional and potentially toxic […]

Innovative Research Unveils Potential Breakthrough in Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy, a major concern for individuals with diabetes, has long been associated with the risk of vision loss and blindness. This condition, driven in part by the actions of retinal immune cells known as microglia, takes a significant toll on those it affects. In a groundbreaking publication, Charles Pfeifer, PhD, from the laboratory of […]

NIH RO1 Grant Recipient!

Congratulations Dr. Siegfried! Carla Siegfried, MD, Jacquelyn E. and Allan E. Kolker, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences received a new NIH RO1 Grant entitled ‘Racial disparities of open-angle glaucoma: A study of mitochondria and oxidative stress in human trabecular meshwork’.  Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness worldwide and frequent cause of visual […]

National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2023

Thank you for everything that you do! We would like to acknowledge and celebrate the hard work and impressive accomplishments of our postdoctoral appointees at Washington University. The contributions of our postdocs are an integral part of the world-class education and research at Washington University. Their energy and talent are vital to our thriving and […]

Congratulations Charles Pfeifer, PhD

Congratulations to Charles Pfeifer on successfully defending your thesis! You have worked hard to achieve this significant milestone in your academic career.