Alumni/ae
Scientists trace their lineages, drawing lines of connection from mentor to trainee. These lines, when seen together, tell a story. A mentor’s passion for discovery infects the next generation, creating the conditions necessary for major breakthroughs. Count the many eminent scientists and clinicians who trace their scientific lineage to Schepens Eye Research Institute, and one sees the connections between discoveries that before may have seemed completely unrelated; we’re at the epicenter of innovation in vision research, a home to global leaders who have shaped the conversation about new treatments, therapies and cures for more than 50 years.
Internationally, Schepens Eye Research Institute’s faculty and trainees play a leading role in driving progress. One current example is the Dry Eye WorkShop (DEWS), an international group of more than 60 scientists, clinicians and industry specialists – almost one-third of whom are Institute scientists or alumni. Over a period of three years, this group has worked to evaluate and update the definition, classification and diagnosis of dry eye and related ocular surface diseases. They have also critically assessed the etiology, mechanism, distribution and global impact of the disease, and addressed its management and therapy. Dry eye disease is a chronic, progressive disease that afflicts approximately 40-60 million people in the United States and 100 million worldwide. According to the 2003 Morgan Stanley Dry Eye Report, in the United States diagnosis rates are estimated to be less than 20% of the dry eye patient population. The definitive report of DEWS, which was sponsored by the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS), was published in April, 2007. The DEWS effort will be critical to extending treatment to all who need it. Senior Scientist Dr. David A. Sullivan is the President of TFOS.
Institute scientists and alumni are prominent on the global stage, and their impact gets noticed. The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, with 12,000 members in more than 70 countries around the world, has often recognized the Institute’s leadership in vision research. This year, Dr. Ilene Gipson received ARVO’s highest research honor, the Friedenwald Award, for her seminal contributions to basic and clinical understanding of wound healing, epithelial anchorage and mucin biology in the areas of ocular surface and cornea research. Dr. Eli Peli was the recipient of Lighthouse International’s 2006 Pisart Vision Award. This prestigious award annually honors someone who has made an extraordinary contribution to the prevention, cure or treatment of severe vision impairment or blindness. An electrical engineer and an optometrist by training, Dr. Peli has devoted his career to creating and evaluating new technologies to help low vision patients regain their ability to conduct everyday tasks such as reading, walking and driving.
Our network of innovation has never been stronger, and major advances in eye health are within our grasp. Our alumni around the world continue Schepens Eye Research Institute’s tradition of defining the future of vision research and treatment—through their own groundbreaking work, and by shaping new generations of scientific and medical leaders.
