Smiling woman with long black hair.

Matilda Chan Named 2026 ARCHES Mid-Career Scholar

Smiling woman with long dark hair.
Matilda F. Chan, MD, PhD

The UCSF Department of Ophthalmology congratulates Matilda F. Chan, MD, PhD, Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and member of the Francis I. Proctor Foundation, on being selected as a 2026 ARCHES Mid-Career Scholar.

The ARCHES Mid-Career Development Program is a two-year faculty development program that supports UCSF research faculty who are outstanding mentors and have demonstrated a commitment to the PRIDE Values and Principles of Community. Scholars receive protected research time, mentorship, and career development opportunities to help advance their research and leadership.

Dr. Chan’s research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in corneal repair and corneal endothelial dystrophies. She also studies barriers to ophthalmic care, with a particular interest in patients experiencing housing insecurity.

Dr. Chan is also active in scientific publishing. She serves on the editorial boards of three vision journals and is Managing Director of the Council of Vision Editors Fellowship (CVEF). The fellowship provides mentored training in peer review and editorial practice for early-career ophthalmology and optometry faculty.

Dr. Chan is one of ten faculty members selected for the 2026 ARCHES Mid-Career Scholar cohort.

Learn more about the 2026 ARCHES Mid-Career Scholar cohort, or visit Dr. Chan’s UCSF Profile Page to learn more about her research and clinical interests.

Clinical Research, Honors and Awards, News, Research /
Scientist examining a vial in laboratory.

Research Spotlight: Tyson Kim on Engineering Cellular-Level Precision to Cure Blindness

A blue cell illustration next to a microscope and petri dish.
This Q&A is part of a series highlighting the breadth of research across UCSF Ophthalmology. In this installment, Tyson Kim, MD, PhD, discusses how he leverages his engineering background to develop new technologies with the goal of curing forms of blindness in his career.

 

Q: What drew you to medicine and ultimately to ophthalmology?

A: I started out deeply interested in physics and engineering. But during college, I had a medical emergency and associated bills which prompted me to nearly drop out. My surgeon stepped in and alleviated the costs so I could stay in school.

That experience fundamentally changed my trajectory, sparking a commitment to the humanitarian side of medicine.

It also took time to figure out how to combine engineering with medicine. I found that ophthalmology was the perfect intersection. There’s a strong foundation in optics and technology, and it’s one of the fastest fields for translating innovation into patient care. Restoring vision can have an immediate, life-changing impact.

 

Q: How does your background in engineering shape your research today?

A: My lab focuses on developing new optical imaging and laser technologies to better understand and treat eye disease. I started by building advanced microscopes during my PhD, and that work has evolved into a full-scale optics lab where we design both imaging systems and therapeutic platforms.

We’re not just observing disease, we’re creating entirely new ways to visualize and intervene, often at the cellular level, in living systems. That combination of physics, engineering and medicine is what drives our work.

 

Q: Can you describe one of your most promising innovations?

A: One major focus is glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. All currently approved treatments aim to lower pressure inside the eye, but they can be invasive or ineffective for some patients.

We’ve developed a technology that allows us to see deep in the eye, even through non-transparent tissues, at cellular resolution. For the first time, we can directly and non-invasively visualize and measure how fluid flows through the eye’s drainage system.

What’s especially exciting is that we can then use this platform to deliver targeted laser therapy without incisions or invasive surgery. It’s essentially non-invasive, image-guided laser surgery. If successful in clinical trials, this could fundamentally change how we treat glaucoma.

 

Q: How do you move technologies like this from the lab to patients?

A: We pursue both academic and translational pathways. On one side, we conduct NIH-funded research and publish discoveries. On the other, we patent our technologies and launch spinout companies to bring them into clinical use.

The goal is always the same: to move innovations as quickly and safely as possible from the lab bench to patient care.

 

Q: Your work also contributed to a discovery about retinal neurons and blood vessels. What was significant about that?

A: That discovery came from combining advanced imaging with biological expertise. Our tools allow us to observe the living eye in 3D over time, capturing interactions between neurons and blood vessels with unprecedented detail.

In collaboration with Xin Duan, PhD, we used this capability to identify a previously unknown mechanism of neurovascular development. It’s a great example of how new tools enable collaboration and can unlock entirely new biology.

 

Q: There’s growing interest in the idea of the eye as a “window to the body.” What does that mean?

A: The eye is unique because it’s the only place in the body where we can directly visualize blood vessels and neural tissue non-invasively and with microscopic resolution. Historically, clinicians have used this qualitatively, for example, noticing signs of high blood pressure or diabetes.

Now, with advanced imaging and AI, we can quantify these signals. That means we can potentially detect or predict systemic diseases—like heart disease or stroke—just from an image of the eye.

This is part of a broader field called “oculomics,” where we use the eye as a platform for understanding whole-body health.

 

Q: What excites you most about the future of this work?

A: The combination of accessibility and precision. The eye is one of the best places in the body to both study disease and test new therapies. It’s often where major medical breakthroughs happen first including gene therapy, stem cell therapy, targeted biologics, and artificial intelligence.

Now, with advances in imaging, laser technology, and computation, we’re entering a phase where we can not only see disease in unprecedented detail, but also intervene with incredible precision.

 

Q: Why is UCSF and the Bay Area an ideal place for this research?

A: UCSF provides an outstanding clinical and research environment, with strong institutional support and a top-tier ophthalmology program.

Equally important is the Bay Area ecosystem. The culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration makes it possible to rapidly translate ideas into real-world solutions. That combination accelerates progress in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

 

Q: What impact do you hope your work will have?

A: If I can help cure even one or two forms of blindness in my career, that would be incredibly meaningful. And right now, it feels like that’s within reach.

News, Research /
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Research Spotlight: Advancing Glaucoma Care with Ying Han

Portrait of Dr. Ying Han.
This Q&A with Dr. Han is part of a new series highlighting the breadth of research across UCSF Ophthalmology. In recognition of World Glaucoma Week, this Research Spotlight features a conversation with Ying Han, MD, PhD, whose work is helping advance new approaches to glaucoma diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.

 

Research Spotlight: Advancing Glaucoma Care with Ying Han

Q: What first drew you to medicine, and eventually to ophthalmology and glaucoma research?

Medicine was always part of my life. My grandfather was a family physician, and that example created a strong tradition in our family. From an early age, I saw medicine as one of the most meaningful ways to help people. It’s a field where you can directly improve and even save lives.

When I chose a specialty, ophthalmology stood out because it offers a unique balance between clinical care and surgery. It also allows physicians to care for patients across the entire lifespan. In my clinic, I see children and older adults, sometimes following patients for many years as they grow and age. That long-term relationship with patients is incredibly rewarding.

Glaucoma, in particular, is fascinating because it combines clinical care, surgery, and research. There is tremendous opportunity to translate scientific discoveries into better treatments for patients.

 

Q: From your perspective, what are some of the biggest shifts happening in glaucoma research and care right now?

We’re currently in a very exciting period for glaucoma research and treatment.

One major shift is in how we think about preventing certain types of glaucoma. For example, emerging research suggests that earlier cataract surgery for patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma may help prevent the progression of the disease, which is responsible for a large proportion of blindness worldwide. That’s a significant change in how we think about managing risk.

At the same time, treatment options for open-angle glaucoma have expanded dramatically. In the past, we had a limited number of therapies. Now we have multiple minimally invasive glaucoma procedures and new laser approaches that allow us to control eye pressure while minimizing complications.

Overall, glaucoma is a great example of how research can move discoveries from the laboratory to patient care relatively quickly.

 

Q: What areas of glaucoma research are most exciting to you right now?

My research focuses largely on clinical studies aimed at improving both surgical outcomes and patient care.

One major project is a randomized clinical trial studying the best location for placing a drainage tube during glaucoma surgery. The tube helps lower eye pressure by draining fluid from the eye. Our study is examining how different placement strategies affect surrounding eye structures and long-term outcomes. We’re also conducting genomic analyses to better understand the biological responses that occur after surgery.

Another area of work focuses on improving how glaucoma care is delivered. For example, we recently published research showing that when optometrists trained in glaucoma care manage stable patients, ophthalmologists can focus on patients who need surgery or urgent treatment. This team-based approach can improve access to care.

We’re also studying how often patients truly need follow-up visits. Historically, follow-up intervals were largely based on expert opinion. We need robust data to determine the optimal follow-up intervals for glaucoma patients. Gaining this understanding could enhance care quality while improving patient access.

 

Q: How are emerging technologies like artificial intelligence shaping glaucoma research?

Artificial intelligence has enormous potential in glaucoma diagnosis and management.

Our team has been working on AI tools that can identify patients with narrow-angle anatomy, a type of glaucoma that can lead to sudden increases in eye pressure and rapid vision loss. AI could help screen patients earlier and identify those who are at the highest risk of developing serious disease.

More broadly, AI may help improve the accuracy and efficiency of glaucoma diagnosis and monitoring. There are also groups exploring how AI could assist with surgical planning and other aspects of care.

 

Q: You’re also studying virtual and remote testing for glaucoma. How could that change patient care?

A key test for glaucoma is the visual field exam, which measures a patient’s peripheral vision. Traditionally, this test is performed in a clinic using specialized equipment.

We’re studying new approaches that could allow patients to complete visual field testing outside the clinic. For example, some systems allow patients to perform tests online, while others use virtual-reality headsets to measure vision.

Our research is comparing these different approaches to determine which are most accurate and practical. If successful, these technologies could allow patients to monitor their disease from home or in a clinic waiting room, improving convenience and expanding access to care.

 

Q: Why is risk stratification so important in glaucoma care?

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, but it usually progresses slowly.

In fact, with appropriate care, about 75 percent of patients experience relatively stable disease or slow progression, while only a smaller group of patients experiences rapid deterioration.

That means it’s critical to identify the patients who are at the highest risk. If we can determine which patients are likely to progress quickly, we can monitor them more closely and intervene earlier. At the same time, stable patients may not need such intensive follow-up.

Better risk stratification helps ensure that patients receive the right level of care at the right time.

 

Q: What do you hope clinicians and researchers take away from your work?

First, I think this is an incredibly exciting time for glaucoma research. We have a real opportunity to prevent vision loss for many patients with the tools we have today, including new surgical approaches, to advanced imaging, and data analysis.

Second, I believe improving care delivery is just as important as developing new treatments. Team-based care models, smarter follow-up strategies, and better use of technology can all help ensure that patients receive timely and effective care.

 

Q: What makes UCSF uniquely positioned to lead in glaucoma research?

At UCSF, we benefit from a strong culture of collaboration across clinical specialties and research disciplines.

Our glaucoma team works closely with colleagues in retina, cornea, and uveitis, as well as with basic science researchers across the university. This environment allows us to study complex eye diseases from multiple perspectives.

We also treat a large number of complex cases, which provides important opportunities to identify new research questions and test innovative solutions.

 

Q: Looking ahead five years, where do you see UCSF leading nationally in glaucoma research?

Clinical trials will remain one of our greatest strengths. Through collaborations with groups like the Proctor Foundation, we are well positioned to conduct rigorous studies that answer critical clinical questions. These trials can directly influence how glaucoma is treated worldwide.

At the same time, UCSF has a strong basic science community that is exploring new approaches such as neuroprotection and nerve regeneration. Advances in these areas could eventually help preserve or even restore vision in patients with glaucoma.

Together, these efforts give us a real opportunity to shape the future of glaucoma care.

 

Image caption: Dr. Ying Han is a glaucoma specialist, surgeon, and researcher who aims to improve care through earlier diagnosis, better treatment, and stronger long-term support for patients at risk of vision loss.

News, Research /
Microscopic view of red blood vessels with blue dots.

Research Spotlight: Mapping the Eye–Brain Connection with Xin Duan

A blue cell illustration next to a microscope and petri dish.
This Q&A with Dr. Duan is part of a new series highlighting the breadth of research across UCSF Ophthalmology.

 

Q&A with Xin Duan, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF

Dr. Xin Duan’s lab is mapping one of biology’s most complex and least understood systems: how the eye communicates with the brain. Through pioneering tools and cross-disciplinary collaboration, his team is revealing how visual information travels and how those pathways might one day be repaired to restore sight. He recently received grant funding from Research to Prevent Blindness to support some of this work

 

Q: What questions are your lab focused on right now?

We have two major research directions.

The first is understanding how neurons in the eye respond to injury, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy or ischemia. We study how those retinal neurons react at the molecular and circuit levels, and we develop tools that other scientists can use to explore those processes in both mice and humans.

The second direction looks at how eye neurons communicate with brain neurons over long distances. This is still early, basic science, but it’s laying the foundation for understanding how visual information is encoded and transmitted to the brain.

 

Q: What kinds of tools are you developing to make this work possible?

Our lab builds and integrates four main categories of tools:

1. Genetic and viral tools to label and manipulate specific neurons in the eye or brain.

2. Electrophysiology, using sharp electrodes to record neural activity.

3. Imaging technologies that allow us to visualize many neurons simultaneously.

4. Connectivity mapping tools, which trace the precise neural links between the retina and the brain.

Recently, a former MD-PhD student in my lab created a genetically tractable tracer that lights up connected neurons in different colors, letting us see, for the first time, exactly which retinal neurons talk to which brain neurons. We’ve since combined that work with machine learning, so we can now map thousands of these connections at once. It’s giving us a panoramic wiring diagram from the eye to the brain.

 

Q: What could this mean for the future of vision restoration?

If we know precisely how each retinal neuron connects to its partner in the brain, we can start to think about repairing or even recreating those connections.

That could open the door to next-generation prosthetics or brain-machine interfaces that bypass damaged parts of the eye and deliver visual information directly to the brain. For example, if someone loses the ability to detect motion, we could stimulate the exact brain regions responsible for motion perception.

It’s still early. We’re working primarily in mice, but the goal is to bring back the first electrical signals between the eye and brain. Achieving that would be a major milestone for restoring vision.

 

Q: You collaborate widely across UCSF and beyond. Why is that integration so important?

For a long time, ophthalmology and neuroscience were somewhat separate. But advances in imaging, materials science, and AI have made it possible to bridge those worlds.

Here at UCSF, we’re surrounded by experts in neurology, physiology, and anatomy who understand the brain from different angles. We’re also close to engineering and biotech innovators at Berkeley, Stanford, and in the Bay Area. That environment, in addition to support from agencies like the NEI and Glaucoma Research Foundation, make it possible to pursue truly cross-disciplinary science.

Ultimately, repairing vision isn’t just an eye problem or a brain problem. It’s both.

 

Q: What do you hope this research will achieve in 10 years?

I’m hoping we can repair electrical pathways from the eye to the brain, using a combination of molecular, cellular, and imaging tools.

That’s the dream: to reestablish communication between the eye and brain in a living system, whether in non-human primates or human patients. We have the tools and the collaborations to make it possible. Now it’s a matter of time and persistence.

Image caption: “Neurons discovered in the Duan lab with unique neuroprotective functions in the eyes and regenerative abilities back to the brain (Image Credit: Matthew Lum)”

News, Research /
UCSF banner at AAO 2025 event with palm trees.

UCSF at the “AAO 2025 Annual Meeting”

UCSF Ophthalmology and Proctor Foundation Faculty are attending the American Academy of Ophthalmology “AAO 2025” annual meeting in Orlando, from Friday, October 17, 2025, to Monday, October 20, 2025. Faculty presentations and contributions for the event are listed below.

The Francis I. Proctor Foundation, the Department of Ophthalmology, the Frederick C. Cordes Eye Society, the H. Bruce Ostler Association of Proctor Fellows, and All May See Foundation will host a reception on Saturday, October 18, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Tom’s Watch Bar (on the Mezzanine), 8050 International Drive, Suite 1000, Orlando, FL 32819. We look forward to connecting with UCSF alumni, faculty, and friends. IIf you haven’t done so already, please RSVP by emailing us at allmaysee@ucsf.edu.

 

Faculty Presentations and Contributions

Friday, October 17

Nailyn Rasool , MD

Title: Section I: Neuro-Ophthalmic Emergencies

Session: A Case of Unequal Pupils

Date: 10/17/2025, Time: 8:03 EST

Location: Room W414CD

Poster/Event Number: NEU02

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Armin Afshar , MD MBA

Title: Intraocular Tumors—With Great Oncology Comes Great Responsibility

Session:

Date: 10/17/2025, Time: 10:50 EST

Location: Room W414AB

Poster/Event Number: PTH04

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Jacque Duncan, MD

Title: The Enchanted Retina: Bright Ideas, Bold Discoveries: How Can We Show Treatments Are Safe and Effective in Retinal Degenerations?

Session: Section V: Medical Retina and Chorioretinal Vascular Disease, Part I

Date: 10/17/2025, Time: 10:56 EST

Location: Room W415

Poster/Event Number: RET07

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Gerami Seitzman, MD

Title: Elevating the Patient Experience in Ocular Surface Care: Eyelid Margin Disease, Neurosensory Disorders, and Inflammation

Session: Independent Medical Education (IME) symposium

Date: 10/17/2025, Time: 11:30 EST

Location: Location Not Available

Poster/Event Number: NA

Type: in person

Ying Han , MD PhD

Title: Shared Care Models: Empowering Optometrists and Allied Health Professionals With the Magic of Collaborative Care

Session: Caring for Glaucoma Patients Now and in the Future

Date: 10/17/2025, Time: 14:55 EST

Location: Room W320

Poster/Event Number: GLA07

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Robert Bhisitkul, MD

Title: The Enchanted Retina: Bright Ideas, Bold Discoveries: Panelist

Session: Section IX: Late Breaking Developments, Part 1

Date: 10/17/2025, Time: 16:01 EST

Location: Room W415

Poster/Event Number: RET11

Type: In person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Saturday, October 18

Gerami Seitzman, MD

Title: Evidence-Based Strategy for Acanthamoeba Management: Knowledge Over Fear

Session: Section I: Ocular Surface Disease/Dry Eye

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 9:27 EST

Location: Room W224

Poster/Event Number: COR02

Type: In person, live broadcast, on demand

Sarah DeParis, MD

Title: Compassionate Vision: A Candid Conversation on Mental Health and Wellness in Ophthalmology

Session: Wellness

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 9:45 EST

Location: W315

Poster/Event Number: SYM72

Type: In Person, On Demand

Mentor: Jonathan Li, MD and Madeline Yung, MD

Jonathan Li, MD

Title: Panel Discussion: Creating Supportive Training Environments for Ophthalmology Residents

Session: Compassionate Vision: A Candid Conversation on Mental Health and Wellness in Ophthalmology

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 9:45 EST

Location: W315

Poster/Event Number: SYM72

Type: Symposium

Neel Dave Pasricha, MD

Title: Ocular Toxicity From Immunotherapeutics and Targeted Cancer Drugs

Session: Instruction Course

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 11:30 EST

Location: Room W105

Poster/Event Number: 247

Type: In Person

Jonathan Li, MD

Title: Myopia Control

Session: Myopia Control

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 11:30 EST

Location: Learning Lounge 2

Poster/Event Number: LL04

Type: Learning Lounge In Person

Nisha Acharya, MD MS

Title: C Stephen and Frances Foster Lecture on Uveitis and Immunology

Session: C Stephen and Frances Foster Lecture on Uveitis and Immunology

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 11:30 EST

Location: W311E

Poster/Event Number: SYM12

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Ying Han, MD PHD

Title: PACS/PACG – Do These Patients Benefit from Presbyopia Correction?

Session: Can I Have That Lens? Surgical Considerations in Patients With Advanced Ophthalmic Comorbidities Symposium

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 12:01 EST

Location: Room W320

Poster/Event Number: SYM32

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Maanasa Indaram, MD

Title: How to Use Botox for the Management of Strabismus

Session: NA

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 12:30 EST

Location: Learning Lounge 1

Poster/Event Number: LL05

Type: In person

Bryan Winn, MD

Title: Invasive Sino-orbital Fungal Disease

Session: Invasive Sino-orbital Fungal Disease

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 13:55 EST

Location: Room W414CD

Poster/Event Number: OCU05

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Matilda Chan, MD, PhD

Title: Effective Peer Review: A Responsibility to Maintain Scientific Integrity

Session:

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 14:00 EST

Location: Room W231

Poster/Event Number: 268

Type: In Person Instruction Course

O’Rese J Knight, MD

Title: Creating Diversity in Clinical Trials in Ophthalmology

Session:

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 14:00 EST

Location: W315

Poster/Event Number: SYM19

Type: In Person, On Demand

Nickisa Hodgson, MD

Title: Dacryocystorhinostomy: External vs. Endoscopic Approach

Session:

Date: 10/18/2025, Time: 14:50 EST

Location: Room W414CD

Poster/Event Number: OCU06

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Sunday, October 19

Jacque Duncan, MD

Title: What You Need to Know from the Past Year’s Literature: Retina

Session: What You Need to Know from the Past Year’s Literature

Date: 10/19/2025, Time: 9:45 EST

Location: Room W224

Poster/Event Number: SYM34

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand/Symposium

Yvonne Ou , MD

Title: Leveraging New Technologies to Detect Glaucoma in 4 States: Methods and Opportunities for Implementation

Session: Leveraging New Technologies to Detect Glaucoma in 4 States: Methods and Opportunities for Implementation

Date: 10/19/2025, Time: 9:45 EST

Location: W309

Poster/Event Number: SYM68

Type: In Person

Nisha Acharya, MD MS

Title: The Great Debate: Uveitis

Session: The Great Debate: Uveitis

Date: 10/19/2025, Time: 11:30 EST

Location: Room W224

Poster/Event Number: SYM38

Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Monday, October 20

John Gonzales, MD

Title: Corneal Neuropathies in Dry Eye Disease

Session: Corneal Nerves in Health and Disease

Date: 10/20/2025, Time: 8:15 EST

Location: Room W414CD

Poster/Event Number: SYM55

Type: In person

John Gonzales, MD

Title: Academy Café: Uveitis

Session: Academy Café: Uveitis

Date: 10/20/2025, Time: 9:45 EST

Location: Room W204

Poster/Event Number: SYM59

Type: In person

Nailyn Rasool, MD

Title: Neuro-Ophthalmology

Session: Curbside Consultation in Neuro-Ophthalmology

Date: 10/20/2025, Time: 11:30 EST

Location: W311AB

Poster/Event Number: 639

Type: In Person

Nailyn Rasool, MD

Title: Neuro-Ophthalmology

Session: Down the Rabbit Hole: Making Sense of Cortical Visual Disturbances

Date: 10/20/2025, Time: 14:00 EST

Location: W311AB

Poster/Event Number: 648

Type: In Person

On Demand Presentations

Alyssa Godfrey, MS

Title: Impact of Teprotumumab (Tepezza) on Strabismus Surgery Outcomes in Patients With TED

Session: NA

Date: On-Demand Online

Location: On Demand

Poster/Event Number: PO589

Type: On Demand

Mentor: Maanasa Indaram

Ajay Kolli , MD MPH

Title: Real-World Analysis of Glaucoma Progression in Patients With Delayed Follow-Up

Session: NA

Date: On-Demand Online

Location: On Demand

Poster/Event Number: PO312

Type: On Demand

Mentor: Ying Han

O’Rese J Knight, MD

Title: Geographic Practice Patterns of Research Mentoring Program Alumni

Session:

Date: On-Demand Online

Location: On Demand

Poster/Event Number: PO405

Type: On Demand

Gerami Seitzman, MD

Title: Comparing Microbiologic Tests for Pathogen Detection in Infectious Keratitis Using Latent Class Analysis

Session: Topic: Cornea, External Disease

Date: On-Demand Online

Location: On Demand

Poster/Event Number: PO006

Type: Scientific Poster on demand

Clinical Research, Education, Faculty Profile, Honors and Awards, K12, Meeting Announcement, Meeting Presentation, News, Research, Residents & Fellows /
Logo of Research to Prevent Blindness.

UCSF Vision Scientists Honored with Prestigious RPB Awards

Two UCSF researchers have received major awards from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), one of the nation’s leading organizations supporting innovative vision science. These honors reflect the strength of UCSF’s research community and its commitment to transforming care for people with blinding eye diseases.

Luciano C. Greig, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, has been awarded the highly competitive RPB Career Development Award (CDA). Designed to support early-career researchers as they establish independent labs, this four-year grant provides critical funding for promising vision scientists poised to make significant contributions to the field.

Dr. Greig’s research seeks to understand how genes guide the formation of the retina’s many cell types. His lab’s discoveries are laying the foundation for advanced stem cell therapies that could one day restore vision lost to diseases currently without cures.
Learn more about Dr. Greig’s research ›

Xin Duan, PhD, Professor, has received the RPB Stein Innovation Award, a three-year grant that funds pioneering research into how eye neurons and blood vessels interact to maintain proper visual function and retina health.

Dr. Duan’s lab investigates how vascular and ocular pressure interact in the eye. Fluctuations in these pressures may affect retinal neuron survival, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear. Dr. Duan’s recent research identified perivascular neurons and mechanosensitive channels, shedding light on retinal vascular disorders such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal ischemia. Currently, few cures exist beyond anti-VEGF treatments. There is an urgent need to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms that guide vascular development and function. Defining perivascular RGCs and exploring their molecular features may lead to innovative therapies that target the newly recognized neurovascular interactions, especially those related to anti-VEGF-resistant growth.

These awards underscore UCSF’s leadership in vision research and the promise of discovery to improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

Clinical Research, Honors and Awards, News, Research /
Chicago riverfront with buildings and a boat.

UCSF at the “AAO 2024 Annual Meeting”

UCSF Ophthalmology and Proctor Foundation Faculty are attending the American Academy of Ophthalmology “AAO 2024” annual meeting at “McCormick Place” in Chicago, from Friday, October 18, 2024 to Monday, October 21, 2024.  Faculty presentations and contributions for the event are listed below.

The Francis I. Proctor Foundation, the Department of Ophthalmology, the Frederick C. Cordes Eye Society, the H. Bruce Ostler Association of Proctor Fellows, and All May See Foundation will host a cocktail reception on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00PM. Please click here to RSVP by September 23 to attend.

 

Faculty Presentations and Contributions

Friday, October 18

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS

Title: Panel/Moderator

Session: Section I: What I’m Doing in 2024
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 8:05 AM CDT [06:05 AM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100AB
Poster/Event Number: REF02
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Yvonne Ou, MD

Title: Welcome and Introductions

Session: Announcements
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 8:07 AM CDT [06:07 AM PDT]
Location: Room E354
Poster/Event Number: GLA01
Type: In Person, Live Broadcase, On Demand

Julius Oatts, MD

Title: DEI and Mental Health—“I Can See You”

Session: Pediatric Ophthalmology Workforce and Equitable Care
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 10:25 AM CDT [08:25 AM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100C
Poster/Event Number: PED04
Type: In Person

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS

Title: Lens Based: Multifocal/Trifocal/Extended Depth of Field

Session: Section III: Show Me the Evidence—Point-Counterpoint
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 10:30 AM CDT [08:30 AM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100AB
Poster/Event Number: REF04
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Alejandra de Alba Campomanes , MD

Title: Should We Use Botulinum Toxin More Often and Do a Better Job Training Clinicians How to Use It? Yes

Session: PED06Section IV: Debates—“You Need to Calm Down”
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 1:56 PM CDT [11:56 AM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100C
Poster/Event Number: PED06
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Maanasa Indaram, MD

Title: Apps for Pediatric Ophthalmologists

Session: Section V: Technology—“Glitch”
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 2:23 PM CDT [12:23 PM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100C
Poster/Event Number: PED07
Type: In Person

Yvonne Ou, MD

Title: The Latest Diagnostics For Glaucoma, and All That Jazz
Session

Session: The Latest Diagnostics For Glaucoma, and All That Jazz
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 2:28 PM CDT [12:28 PM PDT]
Location: Room E354
Poster/Event Number: GLA07
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

John Gonzales, MD

Title: Macular Edema Ranibizumab versus Intravitreal Anti-Inflammatory Therapy (MERIT) Trial 24 Weeks Results

Session: Uveitis Subspecialty Day: Late Breaking Presentations
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 4:15 PM CDT [02:15 PM PDT]
Location: Room E350
Poster/Event Number: UVE09
Type: In Person

Robert Bhisitkul, MD, PhD

Title: Section X: First-time Results of Clinical Trials

Session: Section X: First-time Results of Clinical Trials
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 4:54 PM CDT [02:54 PM PDT]
Location: Arie Crown
Poster/Event Number: RET12
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Nisha Acharya, MD, MS

Title: The Adalimumab in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Associated Uveitis Trial (ADJUST) Results

Session: Uveitis Subspecialty Day: Late Breaking Presentations
Date: 10/18/2024, Time: 4:55 PM CDT [02:55 PM PDT]
Location: Room E350
Poster/Event Number: UVE09
Type: In Person

Saturday, October 19

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS

Title: Lab

Session: No Capsule, No Problem: Intrascleral Haptic Fixation of IOLs
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 8:00 AM CDT [06:00 AM PDT]
Location: Room N228
Poster/Event Number: LAB146A
Type: In person

Jacque Duncan , MD

Title: Why Do We Still Have So Few Treatments for Retinal Degenerations, and Where Do We Go From Here?

Session: Section XI: Medical Retina and Chorioretinal Vascular Disease Part II
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 8:39 AM CDT [06:39 AM PDT]
Location: Arie Crown
Poster/Event Number: RET14
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Stephen McLeod, MD

Title: Opening Session

Session: Opening Session
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 9:00 AM CDT [07:00 AM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100AB
Poster/Event Number: SYM03
Type: In Person, Live Broadcast, On Demand

Simon Fung, MD MA FRCOphth

Title: Surgical Management of Pediatric Trauma

Session: Surgical Management of Pediatric Trauma
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 11:30 AM CDT [09:30 AM PDT]
Location: Room S105D
Poster/Event Number: 244
Type: In Person

Julius Oatts, MD

Title: Virtual Reality Devices in Pediatric Ophthalmology

Session: Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 11:30 AM CDT [09:30 AM PDT]
Location: Learning Lounge
Poster/Event Number: LLO4
Type: In Person

Patrick Takla, BA

Title: A Prospective, Masked Study of the Diagnostic Accuracy of the Blinq and Spot Screening Devices in a Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic-Based Setting

Session: Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus Original Papers
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 11:30 AM CDT [09:30 AM PDT]
Location: Room S405
Poster/Event Number: PA018
Type: In person
Mentor: Julius Oatts, MD

Simon Fung, MD MA FRCOphth

Title: Advanced Pediatric Cornea Surgery

Session: Advanced Pediatric Cornea Surgery
Date: 10/19/2024, Time: 2:30 PM CDT [12:30 PM PDT]
Location: Live Broadcast, On Demand
Poster/Event Number: ASK04V
Type: Live Broadcast, On Demand

Sunday, October 20

Nailyn Rasool , MD FRCPC FRCSC

Title: Down the Rabbit Hole: Making Sense of Cortical Visual Disturbances

Session: Down the Rabbit Hole: Making Sense of Cortical Visual Disturbances
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 2:00 AM CDT [12:00 AM PDT]
Location: Room S102
Poster/Event Number: 471
Type: In Person

Nailyn Rasool , MD FRCPC FRCSC

Title: Curbside Consultation in Neuro-Ophthalmology

Session: Curbside Consultation in Neuro-Ophthalmology
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 3:45 AM CDT [01:45 AM PDT]
Location: Room S103BC
Poster/Event Number: 483
Type: In Person

Nisha Acharya, MD

Title: Panelist for Grand Rounds: Real Cases from Around the World

Session: Grand Rounds: Real Cases from Around the World
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 8:00 AM CDT [06:00 AM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100C
Poster/Event Number: SYM34
Type: In Person

Matilda Chan, MD, PhD

Title: Effective Peer Review: A Responsibility to Maintain Scientific Integrity

Session: Medical Education
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 9:45 AM CDT [07:45 AM PDT]
Location: Room E352
Poster/Event Number: 434
Type: In person

Matilda Chan, MD, PhD

Title: Quality of Peer Review

Session: Effective Peer Review: A Responsibility to Maintain Scientific Integrity
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 9:45 AM CDT [07:45 AM PDT]
Location: Room E352
Poster/Event Number: 434
Type: Instruction Course – In Person

Simon Fung, MD MA FRCOphth

Title: YO Program Part 1: Launching Your Career

Session: YO Program Part 1: Launching Your Career
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 9:45 AM CDT [07:45 AM PDT]
Location: Room S406B
Poster/Event Number: SYM32
Type: In Person, On Demand

Nailyn Rasool , MD FRCPC FRCSC

Title: Common Neuro-Ophthalmology Diagnoses: What to Manage Myself and What to Refer?

Session: Common Neuro-Ophthalmology Diagnoses: What to Manage Myself and What to Refer?
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 10:00 AM CDT [08:00 AM PDT]
Location: Learning Lounge 2
Poster/Event Number: LL12
Type: In Person

Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH

Title: Eyedrops Can Kill? Prevention and Emerging Therapy for Resistant Exogenous and Iatrogenic Corneal Infections

Session: Ask the Experts
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 11:30 AM CDT [09:30 AM PDT]
Location: Live Broadcast, On Demand
Poster/Event Number: ASK07V
Type: Live Broadcast, On Demand

Simon Fung, MD MA FRCOphth

Title: YO Program Part 2: Career Coaching

Session: YO Program Part 2: Career Coaching
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 11:30 AM CDT [09:30 AM PDT]
Location: Room S406B
Poster/Event Number: SYM38
Type: In Person, On Demand

Simon Fung, MD MA FRCOphth

Title: YO Program Part 3: Wellness Throughout Your Career

Session: YO Program Part 3: Wellness Throughout Your Career
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 2:00 PM CDT [12:00 PM PDT]
Location: Room S406B
Poster/Event Number: SYM47
Type: In Person, On Demand

Liangbo (Linus) Shen, MD

Title: Determinants of Four-Year Visual Acuity Loss in Geographic Atrophy – An Analysis of the AREDS and AREDS2 Studies

Session: Retina, Vitreous Original Papers
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 2:12 PM CDT [12:12 PM PDT]
Location: Room Room S405
Poster/Event Number: OP08
Type: In Person, Original Paper Session
Mentor: Jay Stewart, MD

Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH

Title: Strengthening Global Ophthalmology Through International Research

Session: Elevating Global Ophthalmology: Creating a Community Through Education, Advocacy, and International Partnerships
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 2:15 PM CDT [12:15 PM PDT]
Location: Room E350
Poster/Event Number: SYM43
Type: In Person, On Demand

Michele M. Bloomer , MD

Title: Advanced Refractive Cataract Surgery and Anterior Segment Reconstruction

Session: Advanced Refractive Cataract Surgery and Anterior Segment Reconstruction
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 3:00 PM CDT [01:00 PM PDT]
Location: Room N228
Poster/Event Number: LAB116B
Type: In Person Skills Transfer

Stephen McLeod, MD

Title: Ophthalmic Premier League: A Team Symposium on Managing Cataract Complications

Session: Ophthalmic Premier League: A Team Symposium on Managing Cataract Complications
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 3:45 PM CDT [01:45 PM PDT]
Location: Grand Ballroom S100AB
Poster/Event Number: SYM53
Type: In Person, On Demand

Gerami Seitzman , MD

Title: Management of the Red Eye

Session: Management of the Red Eye
Date: 10/20/2024 Time: 3:45 PMCDT [1:45 PM PDT]
Location: Room S404ABC
Poster/Event Number: SYM49
Type: In Person, Live Broadcase, On Demand

Simon Fung, MD MA FRCOphth

Title: Carving Your Path in Global Ophthalmology: One Size Does Not Fit All

Session: Carving Your Path in Global Ophthalmology: One Size Does Not Fit All
Date: 10/20/2024, Time: 4:00 PM CDT [02:00 PM PDT]
Location: Learning Lounge 2
Poster/Event Number: LL20
Type: In Person

Monday, October 21

Julius Oatts, MD

Title: What’s New and Important in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus for 2024

Session: Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus
Date: 10/21/2024, Time: 9:45 AM CDT [07:45 AM PDT]
Location: Room S104
Poster/Event Number: 623 
Type: In Person

Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH

Title: Grand Rounds With Infectious Keratitis Experts: What You Should Know

Session: Grand Rounds With Infectious Keratitis Experts: What You Should Know
Date: 10/21/2024, Time: 2:00 PM CDT [12:00 PM PDT]
Location: Room S101
Poster/Event Number: 654
Type: In Person

Gerami Seitzman , MD

Title: Grand Rounds With Infectious Keratitis Experts: What You Should Know

Session:Grand Rounds With Infectious Keratitis Experts: What You Should Know
Date: 10/21/2024, Time: 2:00 PM CDT [12:00 PM PDT]
Location: Room S101
Poster/Event Number: 654
Type: In Person

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