Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition affecting the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision. It is a leading cause of vision loss in people 50 years or older. Understanding the condition, recognizing early changes, and knowing what support is available can help patients maintain both vision and quality of […]
Poonam Naik, PhD, a researcher in the Apte Lab within the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, has received a research grant from the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation to study new immune-based approaches for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), a leading cause of vision loss. The project focuses on […]
WashU Medicine physicians describe a rare cause of secondary glaucoma tied to amyloid protein deposits inside the eye Physicians from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences recently published a new case report describing a rare cause of glaucoma that was difficult to diagnose using standard clinical exams. The […]
Transforming noninvasive retinal imaging into practical tools for screening and referral Wilson Wang, MD, resident at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, received an award from the Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation (VRSF). The award is for his project titled “Clinically Actionable OCT-A Biomarkers: A Retinal Microangiopathy Index for Risk Stratification […]
New funding supports innovative research into the biology of choroidal neovascularization WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, congratulates Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, for receiving a new research grant from The Carl Marschall Reeves and Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation. The grant supports Dr. Shuntaro Ogura’s project in Apte Lab […]
Researchers are learning that the eye may offer important clues about brain health, especially in people with retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S) In this study, led by medical student Henok Getahun, working in the Apte lab at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, participants with […]
An increase in gap years may be a cause for concern for the nation’s growing doctor shortage A new publication by WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, led by physicians Cynthia L. Montana, MD, PhD, and Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, examines how today’s medical training path may be […]
This month, researchers from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences joined colleagues from around the world to present their work at SfN’s poster sessions. Sean McCracken, PhD, representing the Williams lab, shared his research on retinogeniculate organization in the visual thalamus after monocular crush injury and explored the role […]
Is there a more intriguingly named part of our body than the Zonule of Zinn? This network of tiny, translucent fibers sits behind the iris, bridging the gap between the lens and the inner wall of the eye. Acting like the springs of a trampoline, these fibers enable the lens to adjust its shape to […]
November Spotlights Breakthroughs in Diabetic Retinopathy Research Each November, Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness Month calls attention to one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. At the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, researchers are taking the conversation a step further shifting the focus from awareness to innovation, discovery, and […]
This Research Insight covers a publication from the Bassnett Lab. Here, we highlight how findings by Pooja Rathaur, PhD and colleagues have contributed to our understanding of how the fibrous molecules that comprise the zonular fibers of the eye support vision. In their paper published in Cells, scientists in the lab of Steven Bassnett, PhD—professor […]
This Research Insight covers a study from the Kerschensteiner Lab. Here, we highlight how Florentina Soto, PhD and colleagues characterized the functional properties of the output cells of the retina to understand how information is coded in the human retina. This study from the Kerschensteiner Lab, published in Neuron, marks the first functional characterization of […]
Funding supports study using optical coherence tomography angiography to predict risk for preeclampsia Wilson Wang, MD and Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, have received a $139,150 grant from the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. This grant is in support of their project […]
Faculty, trainees and staff gathered for the annual retreat featuring poster sessions, food trucks and research awards The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences hosted the 2025 Vision Science Research Retreat on Friday, October 3, bringing together faculty, trainees and staff for a day celebrating innovation and collaboration in vision research. […]
This Research Insight covers a publication from the Williams Lab. Here, we highlight how Allison Hall and colleagues unveiled the cellular identity of a retinal ganglion cell that innately survives well following injury to the optic nerve. They further explored cellular factors that could help explain the resilience of these cells to offer insights into […]
This Research Insight covers a study from the Chen Lab. Here, we highlight a proposed model for retinal degeneration based on binding activity of the Cone-Rod Homeobox transcription factor, CRX. In this study published in eLife, researchers in the lab of Shiming Chen, PhD, Dr. Bernard and Janet R. Becker Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at […]
Aaron Y. Lee, MD, MSCI, and team named Phase 1 finalists in the NIH S-Index Challenge for developing a novel metric to reward high-quality data sharing. St. Louis, MO — September 16, 2025 — We are excited to share that Aaron Y. Lee, MD, MSCI, Arthur W. Stickle Distinguished Professor and Chairman of the WashU Medicine […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]