Scientific Advisory Board
The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is a group of about 60 of the world’s leading retinal disease researchers who guide the Foundation’s scientific activities. Led by a chair and supported by vice-chairs, the SAB includes members with significant achievements in retinal degeneration research. These members hold academic positions and are known for their objectivity and dedication to the Foundation’s goals. They help determine the Foundation’s research direction, gaps, and priorities. They are responsible for deciding which research grants will be funded each year through a rigorous, multi-step process that typically runs from August–September to May–June. SAB members advise the Board of Directors, participate in meetings, review grant applications, and represent the Foundation at events. Their expertise and input are crucial in advancing the mission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness to understand and treat retinal degenerations.
Chair
Jacque Duncan, MD
Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Beckman Vision Center, University of California, San Francisco
Vice Chair, Program Chair, Genetics
Stephen P. Daiger, PhD
Human Genetics Center, School of Public Health The Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Houston, TX
Vice Chair
Frederick Ferris, III, MD
Ophthalmic Research Consultants, LLC
Vice Chair
John Flannery, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology, Dept. Molecular & Cell Biology, Assoc. Director, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley
Vice Chair
Catherine Bowes Rickman, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology, Depts of Ophthalmology & Cell Biology, George and Geneva Boguslavsky Distinguished Professor of Eye Research, Professor in Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine
Vice Chair
José-Alain Sahel, MD
Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Exceptional Class Professor at Sorbonne Université, Paris, The Eye and Ear Foundation Endowed Chair
Vice Chair
Marco Zarbin, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair, Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Professor of Neurosciences, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Chief, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Newark, New Jersey
Member
Gustavo Aguirre, VMD, PhD
Professor, Medical Genetics and Ophthalmology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Member
Bela Anand-Apte, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Ophthalmic Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Member, Program Chair, Novel Medical Therapy
John D. Ash, PhD
Vice-Chair of Ophthalmology and Director of Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Member
Isabelle Audo, MD, PhD
Full Professor, Département de Génétique, Institut de la Vision
Member
Radha Ayyagari, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology, Chief of Ophthalmic Molecular Genetics Laboratory (CLIA certified), Director of Shiley Eye Institute BioBank, Viterbi Family Chair III, Shiley Eye Center, University of California, San Diego
Member
William A. Beltran, DVM, PhD
Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Member
Paul S. Bernstein, MD PhD
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Moran Eye Center, University of Utah
Member, Program Chair, Clinical
David G. Birch, PhD
Scientific Director, Director, Rose-Silverthorne Retinal Degenerations Laboratory, Retina Foundation of the Southwest
Member
Jeffrey H. Boatright, PhD
Dept. of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine
Member, Program Chair, Gene Therapy
Shannon E. Boye, PhD
Assistant Pofessor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida
Member
Kari Branham, MS, CGC
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Genetic Counselor, Inherited Retinal Dystrophy Clinic, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan
Member
Jennifer Chao, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington
Member
Rob Collin, PhD
Professor of Molecular Therapy for Inherited Retinal Diseases, Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre
Member
Jason I. Comander, MD, PhD
Director, Inherited Retinal Disorders Service, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Member
Frans Cremers, PhD
Professor, Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Principal Investigator, Donders Center of Medical Neurosciences
Member
Deniz Dalkara, PhD
Group Leader, Biotherapeutics Department, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
Member
Elfride De Baere, MD, PhD
Senior Full Professor, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University, Senior Clinical Investigator, Research Foundation Flanders
Member
Eugene de Juan, Jr., MD
Vice-Chairman/Professor of Ophthalmology, Retina and Vitreous Clinic, University of California, San Francisco
Member, Program Chair, Regenerative Medicine
Lucian V. Del Priore, MD, PhD
Robert R. Young Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, Chief of Ophthalmology, Yale New Haven Hospital
Member
Abigail T. Fahim, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan
Member
G. Jane Farrar, PhD
Professor of Genetics, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin
Member
David Gamm, MD, PhD
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics
Member
James Handa, MD
Chief, Retina Division, Professor of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Member
Elise Héon, MD
Staff Director, Ocular Genetics Program, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, SickKids, University of Toronto
Member
Robert B. Hufnagel, MD, PhD, FACMG
Senior Investigator, Center for Integrated Health Care Research, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group
Member
Leslie G. Hyman, PhD
Vice-Chair for Research, Vickie and Jack Farber Vision Research Center at Wills Eye, Wills Eye Hospital, Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Member
Alessandro Iannaccone, MD, MS, FARVO
Professor of Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, Duke University Medical Center
Member
Thiran Jayasundera, MD, MS, FACS, FRCSC, FRANZCO
Paul R. Lichter Professor of Ophthalmic Genetics, Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Associate Chair, Strategic Implementation, Michigan Medicine, Ophthalmology Retina Clinic
Member
Aaron Y. Lee, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington
Member
Alfred Lewin, PhD
Professor, Dept. of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida
Member
Tiansen Li, PhD
Senior Investigator, Retinal Cell Biology & Degeneration Section, Neurobiology, Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute
Member
Ekaterina Lobanova, MD
Associate Professor Of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh
Member
Maureen Maguire, PhD
Carolyn F. Jones Professor of Ophthalmology, Director, Center for Preventive Ophthalmology & Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania
Member
Goldis Malek, PhD
Associate Professor in Ophthalmology, Vice-Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Faculty Network Member of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine
Member
Jeremy Nathans, MD, PhD
Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Johns Hopkins University
Member
Gary D. Novack, PhD
President, PharmaLogic Development, Inc
Member
Mark Pennesi, MD, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Kenneth C. Swan Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology, Chief, Paul H. Casey Ophthalmic Genetics Division, Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Molecular and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University
Member
Simon Petersen-Jones, DVM, PhD, DECVO
Professor, Comparative Ophthalmology, Dept. of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University
Member
Eric A. Pierce, MD, PhD
William F. Chatlos Professor, Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Member
Thomas Reh, PhD
Professor, Department of Biological Structure, University of Washington School of Medicine
Member
Bärbel M. Rohrer, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology, SmartState Endowed Chair in Gene and Pharmaceutical Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Diseases, Medical University of South Carolina
Member
Hendrik Scholl, MA, MD
Director, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Basel
Member
Johanna M. Seddon, MD, ScM
Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Retina, Director of Macular Degeneration Center of Excellence, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Member
Janet Sparrow, PhD
Anthony Donn Professor of Ophthalmic Science, Professor of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University
Member
Janet Sunness, MD
Medical Director, Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Member
Debra Thompson, PhD
Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Professor, Biological Chemistry, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan
Member
Douglas Vollrath, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Genetics, Ophthalmology, Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine
Member
David S. Williams, PhD
Lab Director, Professor of Ophthalmology and Nuerobiology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles
Member
Paul Yang, MD PhD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University
Member
Mike Young, PhD
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Co-Director, Ocular Regenerative Medicine Institute, Director, Minda de Gunzburg Center for Retinal Regeneration, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School
Member, Program Chair, Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Disease
Donald J. Zack MD, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology, Co-Director, Johns Hopkins Center for Stem Cells and Ocular Regenerative Medicine (STORM), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine