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OCTOBER 2025

 

Pioneering the Future of Eye Care

A Global Mission to Restore Vision

A Global Mission to Restore Vision | PRIMA by Science


A landmark clinical trial co-led by Dr. José-Alain Sahel on the PRIMA retinal implant found that the wireless retinal implant can restore central vision in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to clinical trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Advanced atrophic AMD, also known as geographic atrophy (GA), is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults, affecting more than 5 million people worldwide. Watch Full Video Here

 

In the News

 

Celebrating Innovation: The 2025 Wiegand Entreprenurial Award Reception


On Monday, September 15, the Eye & Ear Foundation hosted a distinguished reception in Pittsburgh to honor the recipients of the Bruce and Barbara Wiegand Entrepreneurial Research Awards. The event welcomed Bruce and Barbara Wiegand, Department chairs, and this year’s awardees—two pioneering companies developed by the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC clinical and research teams. Read More

Dry Eye Clinic Update


The Dry Eye Clinic at the UPMC Vision Institute – which opened in November 2023 – is led by Sabrina Mukhtar, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Dry Eye Clinic. Read More

From Utah to Pitt: A Visionary Duo Rewires the Future of Retinal Research


Two new faculty members are collaborating on the structural biology and neurobiology of retinal interconnections. Bryan Jones, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology, and Rebecca Pfeiffer, PhD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, came from the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, and started at Pitt on August 1, 2025, continuing the work they started in Utah. Read More

A Lifeline for Tetiana


Tetiana Pylypenko, 74, has been helped immeasurably by the Department of Ophthalmology Patient Navigator Dana McGinnis-Thomas. While Tetiana does not speak English, her daughter Olena Raichenko does. Read More

Gene Therapy Trial Cures Wet AMD for Patient


Charleen Nelson, of Pittsburgh, PA, participated in a clinical trial for wet aged macular degeneration. The experience was nothing but positive, with a successful result: she no longer has wet AMD in that eye. Read More

 

Faculty News



Marie-Hélène Errera, MD, PharmD, PhD, received the Mission of Mercy award from the Mercy Physician Wellness Committee.


Anthony St. Leger, PhD, received tenure.


Jay Chhablani, MD, Asad Durrani, MD, Vishal Jhanji, MD, FRCS, FRCOphth, FARVO, Boris Rosin, MD, PhD, and José-Alain Sahel, MD, were recognized in the top 1% of physicians by Avant-garde Health, determined by publication volume, journal impact, and author position.


Andrew Eller, MD, George Park, DO, Gaurav Prakash, MD, and Andrew Williams, MD, were recognized in the top 2% of physicians by Avant-garde Health, determined by publication volume, journal impact, and author position.


The DiLeo Lab’s manuscript, “Topical Gel/Microsphere Eyedrop for Combined Delivery of Brimonidine and Timolol: A Comparative Study with Traditional Eye Drops in Rabbits,” was accepted for publication in Translational Vision Science and Technology.


Vishal Jhanji, MD, FRCS, FRCOphth, FARVO, received a faculty appointment for the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI).


Three people representing the Sigal Lab (Susannah Waxman, Qi Tian, and Ian Sigal, PhD, MASc) placed first in the scientific image competition at the Summer Bioengineering Conference.


Alireza Chamanzar, PhD, and collaborators at MGH, UC, and Berlin’s recent work on Multicenter Development of a Noninvasive Biomarker for Cortical Spreading Depolarization Employing Noninvasive Electroencephalography (EEG) has been accepted and chosen as the Best Science Abstract Award recipient for the Neurocritical Care Society’s (NCS) 23rd Annual Meeting happening this fall.

 

Webinar Recordings

Webinar masthead

Personalized Approach to Dry Eye Care

Eye Infections: Clinical Testing and Related Research

Inherited Retinal Conditions: Current Treatments and Future Research

Next-Generation Therapies to Slow or Halt AMD Vision Loss

The Eye & Ear Foundation

The Eye & Ear Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1985 to foster support for the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh through the generous support of individuals and organizations.


In supporting these world-class Departments, we hold ourselves to the same high standards. We plan to keep moving forward, expanding our support network, and helping the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery stand peerless in the distinction of research and education and, ultimately, the highest level of care provided to our patients.



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