The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (DOVS) at WashU Medicine is proud to announce that two medical students from the Apte Lab have received prestigious awards recognizing their outstanding research in vision science. Wilson Wang, a talented medical student researcher, has been awarded the Max & Evelyn Grand and Robert Carter […]
This Research Insight covers a publication from the Kerschensteiner Lab. Here, we highlight how Michael Fitzpatrick, PhD and colleagues uncovered a new pupil response in the mouse, disentangled the neural pathway in the retina that drives it, and discovered that it is also present in humans. These findings shed new light on strategies the visual […]
The 2025 ARVO Annual Meeting is the premier international forum for the exchange of cutting-edge research and ideas in the field of eye and vision science. Each year, thousands of scientists, clinicians, trainees, and professionals from affiliated disciplines convene to share their latest findings, foster collaborations, and shape the future of vision research. In 2025, […]
This Research Insight covers a recent publication from the Siegfried Lab. Here, we highlight how Ying-Bo Shui, MD, PhD and colleagues identified a gene that might exacerbate the worse primary open-angle glaucoma presentation experienced by Black individuals. In their recent paper published in Scientific Reports, scientists in the lab of Carla Siegfried, MD, professor of […]
St. Louis, MO — April 21, 2025 — Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, was honored with the Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award during a special ceremony recognizing exemplary contributions to the academic community. The 26th annual Outstanding Faculty and Staff Award Ceremony took place on Monday, April 21, at 5:00 p.m. in Steinberg Auditorium on the […]
This Research Insight covers a recent publication from the Apte Lab. Here, we highlight how Ryo Terao, MD, PhD, Mitsukuni Yoshida, MD, PhD, and colleagues explore how excessive cholesterol accumulation in the retina contributes to the degeneration of light-sensing photoreceptors, leading to vision loss. The evidence presented in this study suggests that targeting a process […]
St. Louis, MO — April 1, 2025 —Researchers from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences have identified the most effective treatments for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), a condition that can cause blurry vision and vision loss. The study, led by Henok Getahun and Dr. Rajendra Apte, reviewed the […]
This Research Insight covers a recent publication from the Kerschensteiner Lab. Here, we highlight how Jenna Krizan, PhD and colleagues added clarity to an ongoing debate about the origin of direction-selective signaling in the brain and explored its role in the predatory behaviors of the mouse. In their recent paper published in PNAS, scientists in […]
This Research Insight covers a recent publication from the Morgan Lab. Here, we highlight the stand-out performance of a modified deep learning-based tool to assess the quality of electron micrographs in real-time. In their recent paper published in Microscopy and Microanalysis, scientists in the lab of Joshua Morgan, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology at WashU […]
ST. LOUIS, MO – January 23, 2025 —WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is pleased to announce the publication of a new comprehensive review titled “The Landscape of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibition in Retinal Diseases” by Joseph Lin, a dedicated medical student in the Apte Laboratory. The review, published […]
ST. LOUIS, MO – January 23, 2025 — WashU Medicine was proud to announce that Carla Siegfried, MD, the Jacquelyn E. and Allan E. Kolker, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, was a key speaker and moderator at the prestigious “Next Reality Glaucoma 2025” Symposium. Hosted by the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, […]
Philanthropic Gift Fuels Breakthroughs in Restorative Treatments for Hereditary Blindness ST. LOUIS, MO – November, 2024 — WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is proud to announce a generous $5 million investment from a Polish donor, aimed at advancing innovative genetic and stem cell research led by Shiming Chen, PhD, […]
ST. LOUIS, MO – December 17, 2024 — Mitsu Yoshida, MD, PhD, a researcher at WashU Medicine, has been named the recipient of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation (VRSF) Research Fellowship. Yoshida’s project, titled “The role of adipokine-regulated lipid mediator in age-related retinal dysfunction and disease“, aims to uncover novel mechanisms linking systemic aging to retinal degeneration, […]
ST. LOUIS, MO – December 17, 2024 — Taku Yamamoto, MD, PhD, a researcher at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been honored with the Vision Research Scientific Foundation (VRSF) Award for his groundbreaking work on immunosenescence, the aging-related transition of the immune system. Yamamoto’s project focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying […]
Henok Getahun Awarded Prestigious RPB Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship ST. LOUIS, MO – December 4, 2024 — Henok Getahun, WashU Medicine Medical Student, has been honored with the RPB Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship, a distinguished award that supports promising medical students in pursuing innovative research projects in ophthalmology. Getahun’s groundbreaking research focuses on a […]
The American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting, Academy 2024, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, showcased groundbreaking research and cutting-edge advancements in the field of optometry and vision sciences. Among the distinguished contributors, WashU Medicine faculty members and researchers stood out, bringing innovative ideas to the forefront. One notable session was co-presented by Julia Pulliam, OD, FAAO, […]
November is Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness Month, a time to shed light on a condition that remains a significant cause of blindness among adults. Affecting millions of people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy develops when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina. At WashU Medicine, researchers are leading […]
WashU Medicine’s Dr. Rajendra Apte receives $35,000 research grant award from the Macula Society to study the impact of the aging immune system on uveitis-related vision loss, aiming to discover targeted treatments for older patients. ST. LOUIS, MO – November 4, 2024 – Dr. Rajendra S. Apte, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology […]
Haneen Alfauri presented and led a thought-provoking discussion on AVA-Net, a powerful new retinal blood vessel analysis tool. Through her presentation, Haneen demonstrated how AVA-Net enables clearer visualization and differentiation of arteries, veins, and even the tiniest capillaries in OCTA (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography) images. She emphasized the model’s potential to reveal subtle changes in […]
We are thrilled to share that Poonam Naik, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, has been named a Center of Regenerative Medicine (CRM) Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar for her groundbreaking research on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This prestigious honor recognizes her innovative work on one of the leading causes of […]