Wednesday, May 6

Weisenfeld Award Lecture
at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting in Denver

8:30 – 9:15AM
Colorado Convention Center
 
From Clinic to Evidence: Advancing Research in Ocular Infection and Inflammation

Nisha Acharya, MD, MS
Elizabeth C. Proctor Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics
University of California San Francisco
Director, Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service
F.I. Proctor Foundation

Nisha Acharya will present her research translating clinical experience into rigorous studies in ocular inflammatory and infectious diseases. She will highlight her prospective clinical trials in uveitis, evaluating the comparative effectiveness of treatment strategies to optimize disease control and long-term patient outcomes. She will also discuss her population-level research on herpes zoster ophthalmicus, examining disease burden, complications, and the real-world impact of vaccination on ocular and neurologic health.

These distinct research programs illustrate how patient-centered clinical observations can drive evidence-based investigations that advance understanding and guide therapeutic decision-making. Together, they demonstrate how clinical observations at the bedside can translate into research that meaningfully impacts patient care and clinical practice.
https://www.arvo.org/annual-meeting/award-lectures