Career Development Award

Celebrating 30 years of stimulating world-class research & creating the vision science leaders of tomorrow

Research to Prevent Blindness Research to The Career Development Award Turns 30: Prevent Blindness Celebrating a Generation of Support

JULES STEIN, MD RPB SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY PANEL for Early-Career Scientists (1896-1981) ROBIN ALI, PhD, FMEDSCI Founder University College London Institute of Ophthalmology DAVID F. WEEKS RPB Chairman Emeritus VADIM Y. ARSHAVSKY, PhD Duke University Medical Center In 1996, Tim Stout was the self-described OFFICERS “most junior faculty member” at Doheny PETER A. CAMPOCHIARO, MD DIANE S. SWIFT The Wilmer Eye Institute Eye Institute in Los Angeles. Energized to Chairman The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine set up his own lab and grow both his clinical BRIAN F. HOFLAND, PhD practice and research agenda, Stout, MD, PhD ANNE L. COLEMAN, MD, PhD President David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA now Director of the Cullen Eye Institute at DAVID H. BRENNER Baylor College of Medicine, was soon JONATHAN M. HOLMES, MD Vice President & Secretary Mayo Clinic confronted with the stark realities of time management and limited resources. While he JOHN TINKER RODERICK R. MCINNES, CM, MD, PhD, FRSC Treasurer had some startup funding from the Doheny Jewish General Hospital McGill University Eye Institute, Stout’s mentors urged him to 2 BOARD OF TRUSTEES seek additional funds to jump-start his research 1 DAVID H. BRENNER* J. ANTHONY MOVSHON, PhD efforts. “I was a faculty member for less than New York University ANTONIO M. GOTTO, MD a year when I first learned about and applied FAYE D. HUNTER CYNTHIA OWSLEY, PhD, MSPH for the Career Development Award,” Stout University of Alabama at Birmingham FREDERICK HUNTSBERRY recalled. His application was successful. “It DIANE S. SWIFT* JOHN S. PENN, PhD was nothing short of transformative—for an Vanderbilt University School of Medicine assistant professor in those days, that amount JOHN TINKER* of money was like hitting the jackpot,” he said. KATRINA VANDEN HEUVEL MAHNAZ SHAHIDI, PhD J. Timothy Stout, MD, PhD, of Baylor College of Medicine, Roski Eye Institute Over the next four years, Stout honed his received his RPB CDA in 1997 at the Keck School of WILLIAM J. VANDEN HEUVEL Keck School of Medicine, expertise identifying and developing viral Medicine of the University of Southern California. TOM WERTHEIMER University of Southern California vectors that would ultimately be used in gene KARYN L. WILLIAMS, PhD JANEY WIGGS, MD, PhD therapy techniques to treat proliferative ocular MICHAEL YAGEMANN Harvard Medical School disease as well as a host of other diseases. Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary breakthrough discoveries, chair many of the *Member of the Executive Committee Stout is one of 203 recipients of the Research to SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR TO THE top ophthalmology departments in the nation, Prevent Blindness (RPB) Career Development STAFF RPB BOARD AND SPECIAL CONSULTANT serve as editors of leading ophthalmology TO RPB STAFF Award (CDA), founded 30 years ago as one JO CASELLA research journals and lead some of the field’s of the few private sources of funding aimed Assistant to the Director SHELIA WEST, PhD premier research organizations. In the years of External Affairs specifically at early-career vision researchers. following their CDA grants, the group has SPECIAL CONSULTANTS TO RPB STAFF What began in 1989 as a $120,000, 4-year DIANA FRIEDMAN collectively obtained more than $1 billion in ROBERT EUGENE ANDERSON, MD, PhD grant has grown into a $300,000 award that, Director of External Affairs government and private research funding, an as Stout and other awardees describe, often JOHN E. DOWLING, PhD astounding return on a $40 million investment MARIACLAUDIA LORA serves as a critical “accelerant” for other Executive Assistant and from RPB. Deputy Grants Manager grant-seeking efforts. CDA grantees are a diverse group of clinicians, researchers and PATRICIA R. MORAN clinician-scientists, which encompasses every Grants Administrator Launched, But Not Yet Landed field of vision research, from age-related NATHALIE SHAPIR-ISHAY diseases of the eye to regenerative medicine, Newly launched from the world of medical Office Manager visual neuroscience, genetics and gene therapy, and research fellowships, early-career KATY TOOLIN infectious disease, ocular oncology and dozens researchers and physician scientists often Director of Finance of others. CDA awardees have gone on to make have no choice but to hit the ground running, of lack of time and lack of resources to focus Creating a Cycle of Excellence and start to build a niche of expertise.” Chiang, who received the Career Development The trailblazing clinicians and researchers Award in 2005 while at Columbia University, that comprise the community of CDA recalls the pressure of attempting to build a awardees are not only shaping their research clinical practice while pursuing research that fields and transforming patient care, they could form the basis of a coveted R01 grant are also influencing the next generation from the National Institutes of Health. “It’s of researchers. Recipients of the Career a very difficult time,” he said. “We all want Development Award are nominated by senior to make a difference in the field, but getting faculty members who mentor and supervise started in a department with all the other their progress over the course of the grant academic and service tasks makes it tough period. Over the course of 30 years, RPB to protect your time and get work done.” For has received many applications on which Chiang, the CDA provided vital resources to the mentors are CDA recipients themselves. begin a data and image collection process Fifty-three of these applications have been that would not only shape his career path successful in securing CDA funding. “It’s but would impact the lives of infants and the award that keeps on giving,” said RPB influence the entire field of ophthalmology. President Brian F. Hofland, PhD, noting that some awardees have subsequently nominated Thanks to RPB support, Chiang was able to and mentored as many as five CDA awardees enlist the help of a research coordinator who over the course of their careers. Michael F. Chiang, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University and OHSU Casey Eye Institute, received his RPB CDA in assisted in compiling a database of retinal 2005 at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. images from infants affected by the most Mentorship is so essential in the early years 2 common cause of childhood blindness, of a clinical or research career that, as Hofland 3 explained, CDA applicants are evaluated both learning how to build a lab, care for patients today will reveal hundreds of results in dozens retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). At that time, on their own merit and potential as well as and apply for funding as they go along. They of scientific disciplines, ranging from prizes the popularity of telemedicine was on the the quality of the senior faculty that guide become caught in a catch-22: struggling to aimed at the best and brightest high school rise, and Chiang was interested in developing them. “We’re betting almost as much on the juggle the tasks of grant applications with science students to awards for researchers methods for using the technology to diagnose institution and on the mentors as we are on producing the kinds of research data that under age 40. While overall competition ROP—an already complex task that proved the researchers themselves,” he said. “We make those applications successful. The for funding is more intense today than it even more challenging due to a high degree make sure there are people on the faculty who consequences of failure are significant both was when RPB first introduced the Career of subjectivity in image interpretation. His have the expertise to help them get through individually and on a societal level: “If you Development Award, new faculty researchers timing was fortuitous, however, for those the difficult spots and grow intellectually, don’t get enough funds to get going, hire in prior decades had far fewer places to turn years were also marked by a surge of interest while at the same time encouraging them to people and then get more funds, great ideas for early-career support. and innovation in areas of artificial become independent,” he explained. “During will never make it to patients,” Stout said. intelligence that are particularly well-suited to According to Michael F. Chiang, MD, the medical image analysis. the four years, our awardees step out of the Present-day graduate students and Knowles Professor of Ophthalmology and shadow of their mentors and emerge as very postdoctoral researchers may be surprised to Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology Chiang’s repository of images proved the distinguished researchers in their own right.” learn that the importance of supporting the at Oregon Health & Science University and perfect training ground for him, along with Terri Young, MD, MBA, the Peter A. Duehr work of early-career scientists was not always Associate Director of the OHSU Casey Eye collaborators, to develop some of the first Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of the widely recognized. Even a cursory search for Institute, “One key reason that clinician deep learning algorithms for medical image Department of Ophthalmology and Visual funding opportunities for “young” scientists scientists don’t get off the ground is because analysis in ophthalmology. After more than a decade of evolution, the present-day iteration Sciences at the University of Wisconsin- of those algorithms can outperform Madison, says that success for early-career physicians in correctly identifying ROP, clinician-researchers often rides on a full making top-notch diagnostics available in spectrum of support department-wide. “It has areas where this level of expertise is not to be a wholehearted, full-force commitment In the years following their CDA grants, the group always available. by the department chair and senior faculty members to truly support that person’s has collectively obtained more than $1 billion ambitions,” she said. in government and private research funding, an astounding return on a $40 million investment proved foundational to the rest of Young’s research career and started her on a path that In addition to the funding, the award validated has subsequently yielded insights into multiple gene mutations involved with non-syndromic my research direction, and it gave me the courage myopia and other ocular conditions (childhood glaucoma, corneal and retinal dystrophies, as to pursue my ideas as a young faculty member examples), in various populations. “The Career Development Award provided the necessary start-up funds to establish a comprehensive database and repository of multiple ascertained pedigrees along with their Letting Science Lead the Way RPB, and as Hofland said, the organization DNA, which I still use to this day,” Young said. both expects and values the unpredictability “In addition to the funding, the award validated In an environment where a lab’s sustainability inherent in the process of scientific discovery. my research direction, and it gave me the is directly tied to both resources and results, “There are twists and turns along the way, courage to pursue my ideas as a young faculty the Career Development Award provides a and there are often unexpected and exciting member who had to balance lab time with Rithwick Rajagopal, MD, PhD, of Washington University in core of funding that affords recipients one findings,” he said. “When these things come clinical responsibilities.” St. Louis, received his CDA in 2016 at the university’s benefit that transcends any dollar value: time medical school. He is studying the mechanisms that up, we’re very flexible—we want our awardees With federal funding for scientific research cause diabetic retinopathy. to focus on their passions. “The CDA buys to pursue them.” trending downward over the past decade, early-career researchers some time to truly support for researchers and clinician explore a particular topic,” said Hofland. Terri Young believes this flexibility played a role in the choice to award her a Career scientists is more important now than ever. “They don’t have to chase every other funding As Michael Chiang said, “I remember being come and hopes to raise the annual award 4 opportunity that presents itself.” CDA awardees Development Award in 1996—her first grant amount from $75,000 to $100,000 (for a total 5 in vision research, and one that she describes as told during the first day of medical school that provide annual research progress updates to half of what I learned would be outdated by of $400,000 per researcher over the course a “leap of faith” on the part of the RPB Scientific of the 4-year grant) for even greater impact. Advisory Panel, a committee of renowned the time I started practicing. I know now that it’s true, and the reason it’s true is because scientists from a variety of disciplines that As he reflects upon the monumental of discoveries and advances that push the review all RPB grants. In the first years of her achievements of the hundreds of CDA field forward. The process requires time and clinical career at the University of Minnesota, recipients on the cusp of the program’s 30th support, and it’s ultimately how we take the Young was particularly struck by a cohort of anniversary, Hofland draws on a parallel from best care of patients.” clinic patients who presented with high-grade his own personal history growing up on a myopia, a severe form of nearsightedness farm in the Midwest. “I think of the Career associated with serious comorbidities such as Seeding the Future Development Awardees as being almost like retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataracts. our seed corn,” he said, referencing the top- Many patients also had relatives with the same Looking ahead to the future of the award quality seeds that corn farmers save and condition. “I thought to myself, ‘there has to be program, Hofland would like to expand the replant each year to guarantee future crops. more to this,’ and at that time, there was enough number of young researchers accepted into “They’ve put down roots in this field and have information in the literature to suggest that the CDA community. Each year, RPB’s Scientific provided a huge crop of research findings, there might be a heritable basis for myopia,” Advisory Panel selects six CDA grantees expertise and leadership in so many ways. she said. from among the applicants. Hofland aims to They are such a precious group that assures increase that number to eight in the years to the future bounty of the vision science field.” Inspired by the Human Genome Project and the promise of someday being able to identify genes associated with specific conditions, Young sought additional training in laboratory molecular genetics—a field in which she had no previous experience. She applied for a Career I think of the Career Development Awardees as Development Award to pursue a line of research that she characterized as somewhat risky being almost like our seed corn. They’ve put down and ahead of the curve at the time: discovery of gene variants associated with a complex roots in this field and have provided a huge crop of Terri L. Young, MD, MBA, of the University of Wisconsin- disorder rather than those that are Mendelian Madison, received her RPB CDA in 1996 at the University (a type of biological inheritance). The grant research findings, expertise and leadership of Minnesota Medical School. RPB Career Development Awards Deliver Billion Dollar Promise Unlocking CDA Potential

1989

Early-career researchers World-renowned Chairs of departments Leaders in vision $40 $1 researchers of ophthalmology science and medicine million BILLION investment in in follow-on 2019 6 203 RPB CDAs NIH funding 7

87% of RPB 38 53 ROI of former recent CDAs CDAs CDAs 25:1 mentoring have gone on to receive NIH funding Jeannie Chen, PhD (1995) Jonathan Demb, PhD (2003) Professor of Physiology & Neuroscience, Zilkha Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual RPB Career Development Awardees Neurogenetic Institute, University of Southern Science, of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of California Neuroscience, Yale University Nisha Acharya, MD, MS (2007) Steven L. Bernstein, MD, PhD (1998) Shiming Chen, PhD (1998) Anna Maria Demetriades, MD, PhD (2013) Professor of Ophthalmology and Epidemiology; Professor and Vice-Chair, Ophthalmology and Visual Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Weill Cornell Director of the Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Sciences, University of Maryland and Professor of Developmental Biology, Medical College Disease Service at the F.I. Proctor Foundation, Washington University in St. Louis University of California, San Francisco Cagri G. Besirli, MD, PhD (2013) Dusanka Deretic, PhD (1998) Skillman Career Development Professor of Pediatric Xi Chen, MD, PhD (2017) Research Professor, Ophthalmology Division, Armin Afshar, MD, MBA, MAS (2017) Ophthalmology and Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Duke University of New Mexico Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan University California, San Francisco Steven H. DeVries, MD, PhD (1997) Sanjoy K. Bhattacharya, PhD (2007) Michael F. Chiang, MD (2005) Professor of Ophthalmology and Physiology, Natalie A. Afshari, MD, FACS (2003) Professor of Ophthalmology and Director, Knowles Professor of Ophthalmology & Medical Northwestern University Professor, Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Institute, Ophthalmology Mass Spectrometry Facility, Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon University of California, San Diego University of Miami Health & Science University; Associate Director, Alexander M. Dizhoor, PhD (1997) OHSU Casey Eye Institute Hafter Chair Professor of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania Zubair M. Ahmed, PhD (2010) Brenda L. Bohnsack, MD, PhD (2012) College of Optometry, Salus University Professor, Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Helmut F. Stern Career Development Professor of James Chodosh, MD, MPH (1995) Surgery, University of Maryland Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Assistant David Glendenning Cogan Professor of Ali R. Djalilian, MD (2007) Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Cornea Rando L. Allikmets, PhD (1999) University of Michigan Service Director, Stem Cell Therapy and Corneal William and Donna Acquavella Professor of Joseph B. Ciolino, MD (2012) Tissue Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois Ophthalmic Sciences and Research Director, Edward Catherine Bowes Rickman, PhD (2000) Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard at Chicago S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Professor of Ophthalmology and Associate Medical School Professor in Cell Biology, Duke University Thuy A. Doan, MD, PhD (2016) Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD (2004) Thomas A. Ciulla, MD, MBA (1998) Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Assistant Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Claude F. Burgoyne, MD (1994) Chief Medical Officer, Clearside Biomedical, Inc.; Professor, F. I. Proctor Foundation, University of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington Senior Scientist and Van Buskirk Chair for Volunteer Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, California, San Francisco University in St. Louis Ophthalmic Research and Director, Optic Nerve Indiana University School of Medicine; Board of 8 Head Research Laboratory, Devers Eye Institute, Directors, Midwest Eye Institute Sean P. Donahue, MD, PhD (1998) 9 Sanjay Asrani, MD (2004) Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories Dane Chetkovich, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman Professor of Ophthalmology, Duke University Jason I. Comander, MD, PhD (2013) of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Leah Byrne, PhD (2017) Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Gaetano R. Barile, MD (1998) Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Medical School, and Associate Director, Inherited Raymond S. Douglas, MD, PhD (2007) Professor of Ophthalmology, Zucker School of Pittsburgh Retinal Disorders Service, Mass. Eye and Ear Director of the Orbital and Thyroid Eye Disease Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Program, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Michelle C. Callegan, PhD (2000) Nathan G. Congdon, MD (1999) Edward M. Barnett, MD, PhD (2001) Professor, Microbiology and Immunology, Professor, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Laura E. Dreer, PhD (2008) Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Oklahoma Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast (UK) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Medical College of Wisconsin Visual Sciences, and Director, Psychological & Peter D. Calvert, PhD (2007) Tiffany A. Cook, PhD (2004) Neuropsychology Clinical Research Services, Steven Bassnett, PhD (1997) Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, State Associate Professor of Molecular Medicine & University of Alabama at Birmingham Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of New York Upstate Genetics and Ophthalmology, Wayne State University Washington University in St. Louis Xin Duan, PhD (2017) J. Peter Campbell, MD, MPH (2018) Emmett T. Cunningham, MD, PhD, MPH Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Hilary E. Beggs, PhD (2005) Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Oregon (1998) California, San Francisco Project Team Leader, Calico (California Life Health & Science University Senior Managing Director, Blackstone Life Sciences Company, an R&D company) Alfredo Dubra, PhD (2011) Joseph J. Carroll, PhD (2007) Christine A. Curcio, PhD (1989) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Stanford Jean Bennett, MD, PhD (1992) Richard O. Schultz, MD / Ruth Works Professor White-McKee Endowed Professor in Ophthalmology University F.M. Kirby Professor of Ophthalmology, University of of Ophthalmology; Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the AMD Histopathology Lab, Pennsylvania & Visual Sciences, Biophysics, and Cell Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Elia Duh, MD (2001) Neurobiology and Anatomy; and Director, Advanced Professor, Ophthalmology, John Hopkins University Jeffrey W. Berger, MD, PhD* (1997) Ocular Imaging Program, Medical College of Ales Cvekl, PhD (1998) Medical Center Formerly, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Wisconsin Professor and Vice Chair for Research, (Retina Service), University of Pennsylvania and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; The Max Joshua L. Dunaief, MD, PhD (2000) Director of the Computer Vision Laboratory, Sai H. Chavala, MD (2012) Berger Chair in Ophthalmology; and Professor Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Scheie Eye Institute Professor of Ophthalmology; Director, Laboratory of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine for Retinal Rehabilitation; Director, Translational Jacque L. Duncan, MD (2001) Bruce A. Berkowitz, PhD (1991) Research, University of North Texas Anthony Daniels, MD, MSc (2016) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, Professor, Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual San Francisco Sciences, and Director of Small Animal MRI Facility, Ching-Kang Chen, PhD (2002) Sciences; Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology; Wayne State University Professor of Ophthalmology and Alice R. McPherson and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Felice A. Dunn, PhD (2014) Retina Research Foundation Endowed Chair; Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD (1995) Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; California, San Francisco Val A. and Edith D. Green Presidential Professor of Professor of Neuroscience, Baylor College Monica De La Paz, MD (1996) Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye of Medicine Center, University of Utah School of Medicine William J. Dupps, MD, PhD (2007) J. Martin Heur, MD, PhD (2012) Robert Y. Kim, MD (1993) Jarema Malicki, PhD* (1996) Professor, Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Chief Medical Officer, Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Formerly, Reader, Developmental Genetics, College of Medicine Ophthalmology; Medical Director, USC Roski Biomedical Science Dept, University of Sheffield (UK) Eye Institute Mark E. Kleinman, MD (2012) Robert M. Duvoisin, PhD (1991) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Robert K. Maloney, MD (1991) Professor, Physiology & Pharmacology, Oregon Quan V. (Donny) Hoang, MD, PhD (2014) Kentucky Maloney-Shamie Vision Institute Health & Science University Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke-NUS; Adjunct Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Rachel Kuchtey, MD, PhD (2008) Shobana S. Mani, PhD (2001) Michael A. Dyer, PhD (2004) Columbia University Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt Chair, Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude’s University Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD (1991) Children’s Research Hospital Alex Huang, MD, PhD (2015) Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Rajendra Kumar-Singh, PhD (2000) and Chairman, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert O. Edwards, MD, PhD (1998) California, Los Angeles Professor, Developmental, Molecular & Chemical Washington University in St. Louis Oregon Retina LLP Biology, Tufts University Bo Huang, MD, PhD (1994) Lihua Marmorstein, PhD (2003) Ione Fine, PhD (2005) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Mississippi Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD (2009) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic Professor, Psychology, and Affiliate Professor, Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Radiology and Ophthalmology, University of Bret A. Hughes, PhD (1989) Sciences, University of California, San Francisco Tammy M. Martin, PhD (2003) Washington Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Oregon Health Thomas E. Hughes, PhD (1993) Aaron Lee, MD, MSCI (2018) & Science University John H. Fingert, MD, PhD (2006) Professor, Cell Biology & Neuroscience, Montana Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, State University Washington School of Medicine Reyna Martinez-De Luna, PhD (2018) University of Iowa Research Instructor, Ophthalmology, Cell & John D. Hulleman, PhD (2015) Janis Lem, PhD (1994) Developmental Biology, and Neuroscience & Silvia C. Finnemann, PhD (1999) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Professor, Biological Sciences, Fordham University Texas Southwestern Medical Center Marc H. Levin, MD, PhD (2015) Neuro-ophthalmologist, Palo Alto Medical Brian S. McKay, PhD (1997) John G. Flannery, PhD (1992) Alessandro Iannaccone, MD, MS (2002) Foundation Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Professor, Vision Science and Optometry, University Professor, Ophthalmology, and Director of Center Arizona of California, Berkeley for Retinal Degenerations & Ophthalmic Genetic Edward M. Levine, PhD (2001) Diseases, Duke University William A. Black Professor of Ophthalmology, Margaret McLaren, PhD, Esq. (1990) Peter J. Francis, MD, PhD (2006) Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University 10 Chief Medical Officer and Program Leader, Retina Raymond Iezzi, MD (2000) Medical Center Shannath L. Merbs, MD, PhD (2000) 11 Therapeutic Area, 4D Molecular Therapeutics Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic Professor, Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University Tiansen Li, PhD (1997) Benjamin J. Frankfort, MD, PhD (2010) Bryan Jones, PhD (2006) Senior Investigator, Retinal Cell Biology and Joshua Morgan, PhD (2018) Associate Professor, Departments of Ophthalmology Research Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Degeneration Section, National Eye Institute Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Washington and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine Visual Sciences, University of Utah University in St. Louis Wei Li, PhD (2002) Yingbin Fu, PhD (2008) Albert Jun, MD, PhD (2004) Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Bascom Sayoko E. Moroi, MD, PhD (2000) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Baylor College Professor, Ophthalmology, John Hopkins University Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Michigan of Medicine Medical Center Medicine Ala Moshiri, MD, PhD (2013) Peter L. Gehlbach, MD, PhD (2003) Alon Kahana, MD, PhD (2009) Richard T. Libby, PhD (2006) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Vision Professor, Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Rochester Science, University of California, Davis Sciences, University of Michigan Douglas Gould, PhD (2009) Thomas M. Lietman, MD (2000) David Myung, MD, PhD (2018) Professor & Research Director, Ophthalmology, Adam H. Kaufman, MD (1993) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Stanford University of California, San Francisco Vice-Chair and Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, San Francisco University University of Cincinnati Cynthia L. Grosskreutz, MD, PhD (1999) Phoebe Lin, MD, PhD (2013) Daniel E. Neely, MD (2001) Global Head of Ophthalmology, Novartis Institutes Shalesh Kaushal, MD, PhD (2001) Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Casey Eye Professor, Ophthalmology, Indiana University for BioMedical Research; Associate Professor of Comprehensive Retina Consultants Institute, Oregon Health & Science University Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Maureen E. Neitz, PhD (1990) Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH (2011) Andrew Lotery, MD, FRCOphth (1999) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Washington Abigail S. Hackam, PhD (2004) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of San Francisco Southampton (UK) Paula Anne Newman-Casey, MD (2016) Miami Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Vladimir Kefalov, PhD (2005) Douglas G. Mack, PhD (1996) Michigan Pedram Hamrah, MD (2011) Professor, Ophthalmology, Washington University in Research Associate, University of Colorado Denver, Professor, Ophthalmology, Tufts University School St. Louis Anschutz Medical Campus Robert W. Nickells, PhD (1994) of Medicine Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Wisconsin Daniel Kerschensteiner, MD (2011) Vinit Mahajan, MD, PhD (2011) J. William Harbour, MD (1996) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Stanford John O’Brien, PhD (1998) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Miami Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis University Louisa Stude Sarofim Distinguished Chair and Professor, Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Erin M. Harvey, PhD (2005) Amy Kiernan, PhD (2008) Clint L. Makino, PhD (1994) University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Associate Professor, Physiology & Biophysics, Arizona Rochester Boston University Catherine Oldenburg, ScD, MPH (2018) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco Yvonne Ou, MD (2012) Danielle M. Robertson, OD, PhD (2008) Justine R. Smith, FRANZCO, PhD (2001) Melanie M. Trapani (Sohocki), PhD (2002) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Strategic Professor in Eye & Vision Health/Matthew California, San Francisco Texas Southwestern Flinders Distinguished Professor, College of Medicine Lawrence R. Tychsen, MD (1989) and Public Health, Flinders University (Australia) John F. Hardesty, MD, Distinguished Professor of Paul Shin-Hyun Park, PhD (2008) Mark Rosenblatt, MD, PhD, MBA (2008) Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Professor, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Executive Dean and Illinois Lions/Charles I. Young Matthew A. Smith, PhD (2011) Neurobiology; Professor, Ophthalmology in Sciences, Case Western Reserve University Chair, University of Illinois College of Medicine; Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Pittsburgh Susanna Soon-Chun Park, MD, PhD (1994) University of Illinois at Chicago Erik Ullian, PhD (2006) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, W. Clay Smith, PhD (1997) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, Davis Holly L. Rosenzweig, PhD (2009) Shaler-Richardson Associate Professor of San Francisco Associate Professor, Molecular Microbiology & Ophthalmology, University of Florida Jillian Pearring, PhD (2018) Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University Russell Van Gelder, MD, PhD (2000) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University Lucia Sobrin, MD (2007) Chair and Professor, Ophthalmology, University of of Michigan Daniel R. Saban, PhD (2013) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Harvard Washington Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke Medical School Mark E. Pennesi, MD, PhD (2012) University Rohit Varma, MD, MPH (1996) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Oregon Health Akrit Sodhi, MD, PhD (2010) Director, Southern California Eyecare and Vision & Science University Ramkumar Sabesan, PhD (2016) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Research Institute, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of University Center Kathryn L. Pepple, MD, PhD (2017) Washington Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Edwardo C. Solessio, PhD (1998) Andrea Viczian, PhD (2005) Washington Rebecca M. Sappington, PhD (2010) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, State Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, State Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual University of New York Upstate University of New York Upstate Eric A. Pierce, MD, PhD (1999) Sciences, Vanderbilt University Professor, Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Gabriel Sosne, MD (2002) Shusheng Wang, PhD, MBA (2011) Jesse Schallek, PhD (2015) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Wayne State Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Francesca Pignoni, PhD (1998) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of University Molecular Biology & Department of Ophthalmology, Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, State Rochester Tulane University University of New York Upstate W. Daniel Stamer, PhD (2001) Todd E. Scheetz, PhD (2004) Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke University Xiangyun Wei, PhD (2004) Ian Pitha, MD, PhD (2017) The Roy J. Carver, Jr. Chair in Bioinformatics and Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of 12 Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Computational Biology and Professor, Ophthalmology J. Timothy Stout, MD, PhD (1997) Pittsburgh 13 University and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Chair, Sid W. Richardson Professor and Margarett Root Brown Chair, Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Derek Welsbie, MD, PhD (2013) Haohua Qian, PhD (2000) Gregory W. Schwartz, PhD (2014) Medicine Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Head, Visual Function Core, National Eye Institute Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Northwestern California, San Diego University Patrick M. Stuart, PhD (1993) Nader Rahimi, PhD (2000) Associate Research Professor, Ophthalmology, Saint Rong Wen, MD, PhD (1996) Associate Professor, Pathology, Ophthalmology and James T. Schwiegerling, PhD (2002) Louis University Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Miami Biochemistry, Boston University Professor, College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona Olof H. Sundin, PhD (1992) Judith A. West-Mays, PhD (1999) Brian J. Raisler, PhD (2006) Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences, Texas Professor, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, Robert M. Q. Shanks, PhD (2008) Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso McMaster University (Canada) Rithwick Rajagopal, MD, PhD (2016) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Pittsburgh Ching-Hwa Sung, PhD (1995) Kwoon Y. Wong, PhD (2010) Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis Professor, Cell Biology in Ophthalmology, Weill Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Hui Shao, MD, PhD (2001) Cornell Medical College Sciences, University of Michigan Raju V. S. Rajala, PhD (2003) Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, M.G. McCool Professor of Ophthalmology and University of Louisville James Chee Hian Tan, MD, PhD (2011) Xian-Jie Yang, PhD (1996) Professor, Physiology, University of Oklahoma Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Professor, Ophthalmology, University of California, Nader Sheibani, PhD (2002) California, Los Angeles Los Angeles Rajesh C. Rao, MD (2014) Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Leonard G. Miller Professor of Ophthalmology and University of Wisconsin Shandiz Tehrani, MD, PhD (2015) Terri L. Young, MD, MBA (1996) Visual Sciences; Leslie H. and Abigail S. Wexner Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Oregon Health Peter A. Duehr Endowed Professor of Emerging Scholar of the Taubman Institute; Valery I. Shestopalov, MD (2003) & Science University Ophthalmology, Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Miami and Chair, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Sciences and Pathology, University of Michigan Tongalp Tezel, MD (2004) University of Wisconsin-Madison Kenneth S. Shindler, MD, PhD (2006) Professor, Ophthalmology, Columbia University Sujata Rao, PhD (2014) Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Neurology, Donald J. Zack, MD, PhD (1996) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic University of Pennsylvania Wallace B. Thoreson, PhD (1999) Guerrieri Professor of Genetic Engineering and Gilmore Professor, Vice Chair and Research Director, Molecular Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University Ponugoti Vasantha Rao, PhD (1998) Deepak Shukla, PhD (2003) Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Professor, Ophthalmology, Duke University Marion H. Schenk Esq. Professor in Ophthalmology, Nebraska David N. Zacks, MD, PhD (2002) University of Illinois at Chicago Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Tonia S. Rex, PhD (2010) Ning Tian, MD, PhD (2000) University of Michigan Associate Professor, Ophthalmology, Vanderbilt Ruchira Singh, PhD (2015) Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Utah University Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, University of Michael E. Zuber, MD (2003) Rochester Michael J. Tolentino, MD (2001) Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, State The Macula Center University of New York Upstate

*Deceased; RPB honors and is grateful for Dr. Berger’s and Dr. Malicki’s many contributions to vision science Research to Prevent Blindness

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