The UPMC Vision Institute's Leadership and Impact in Advancing Care for Rare Diseases

May 2026

Dr. Sahel Receives Proctor Medal

José-Alain Sahel, MD, FARVO, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Eye & Ear Foundation Chair, and Director of the UPMC Vision Institute, received the 2026 Proctor Medal from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) at its Annual Meeting on May 4, in Denver, Colorado. The Proctor Medal is a prestigious award established in 1949 to honor outstanding ophthalmology research in the basic or clinical sciences.

Read about Dr. Sahel's lecture

Developing New Drug Candidates for Retinal Diseases

The Systems Pharmacology Lab of Retinal Degeneration of Yuanyuan, run by Yuanyuan Chen, PhD, focuses on pharmacological studies of inherited retinal disease and age-related retinal degeneration. The lab develops drug screening assays to identify small-molecule drugs with efficacy in improving protein homeostasis, reducing retinal inflammation, and protecting retinal neurons from degeneration. The long-term goal is to provide new drug candidates and repurposed drugs with compelling efficacy in preclinical models and advance these molecules into large animal studies and clinical trials.

Read about Dr. Chen's lab

Developing Mutation and Gene-Agnostic Editing Strategies

Targeted mutation correction is well-suited to treat genetic diseases in which many patients have a small number of mutations. But many genetic diseases are caused by large numbers of pathogenic alleles, with each mutation affecting few patients. One obstacle in treating rare genetic diseases is the extensive mutation heterogeneity, especially in ocular disorders.

Read about Dr. Gao's strategies

Investigating Potential Treatments for Rare IRDs

Dr. Joseph Martel’s work focuses on inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), a group of rare, often devastating conditions that cause progressive vision loss and for which there have historically been no treatments.

Read about Dr. Martel's work

Improving Visual Rehabilitation and Treatment Outcomes

The lab of Boris Rosin, MD, PhD, focuses on the neuronal activity correlates of visual disability, both in the retina and the central nervous system (CNS), and their implications for vision rehabilitation following therapy.

Read about the focus of Dr. Rosin's lab

Strengthening OPH's Research Enterprise

In early March, Kalyan C. Vinnakota, PhD, joined the Department of Ophthalmology as a Research Associate Professor and Head of Strategic Planning and Initiatives. He was recruited to support and strengthen the research enterprise of the Department.

Learn more about Dr. Vinnakota

When Leaders Come to See the Science for Themselves

Senator Dave McCormick and the NIH Director visit the UPMC Vision Institute — and leave with a clearer picture of what federal research funding makes possible.

In March, the UPMC Vision Institute welcomed Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) alongside the NIH Director for an up-close look at the research shaping the next generation of vision care. The visit offered national leaders a firsthand experience of the life-changing work underway right here in Pittsburgh — and a concrete example of why sustained federal investment in medical research matters.

Read about their visit

A Vital Partner

The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh, an independent 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1985 to foster philanthropic support for the Departments of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh. The goal is to keep moving forward, expanding EEF’s support network, and helping the Departments achieve unparalleled distinction in research, education, outreach, and patient care.