ARVO 2023: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2023 Annual Meeting takes place April 23-27 in New Orleans, LA. Leaders from Mass Eye and Ear will have a strong presence at this premiere gathering for eye and vision scientists.
ARVO Award Recipients
Claes H. Dohlman Honored With António Champalimaud Vision Award Lecture
April 25, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Claes H. Dohlman, MD, PhD, whose pioneering research at Harvard Ophthalmology and Mass Eye and Ear has forever changed the way conditions of the cornea are understood and treated, received the 2022 António Champalimaud Vision Award for his vast contributions to vision research in September. This award, often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Vision,” is the highest distinction bestowed in ophthalmology and vision science. Dr. Dohlman received the award along with fellow 2022 Champalimaud Laureate, Gerrit R. J. Melles, MD, PhD, founder of the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery and the Melles Cornea Clinic in Rotterdam.
As part of the award, a special named lecture will be presented during the ARVO annual meeting.
Harvard Ophthalmology is the only ophthalmology department to receive the Champalimaud Award multiple times and boasts the most laureates to date.
Eric Pierce Presents Proctor Medal and Award Lecture
April 24, 8:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Ophthalmology at the Forefront of Precision Medicine: From Genes to Therapies for Inherited Retinal Degenerations
Eric Pierce, MD, PhD, will receive this award for his outstanding research contributions to ophthalmology. Dr. Pierce is internationally renowned for his pioneering research on the molecular genetics of inherited retinal disorders (IRDs). His research has led to the discovery of several novel IRD-causing genes. He has also played a leading role in developing CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering for the treatment of IRDs, and has led cutting-edge gene therapy clinical trials, including a first-of-its-kind CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy trial for Leber congenital amaurosis.
Demetrios Vavvas to Receive the Kreissig Award for Excellence in Retinal Surgery
Demetrios Vavvas, MD, PhD, a clinician scientist and director of the Retina Service at Mass Eye and Ear, is an internationally recognized expert vitreoretinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration. With a strong focus on neuroprotection, he is applying his translational research toward finding new treatments for retinal degenerations.
This award celebrates Dr. Vavvas' contributions that have significantly advanced our understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind retinal diseases.
Highlighted Presentations at Imaging in the Eye Conference
Brain, Eye and Artificial Intelligence
April 22, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Paper Session
Yu Tian, PhD, a research fellow at Mass Eye and Ear, will discuss how he used deep learning modeling to quantify the nonlinear relationship between retinal layers and ag-related macular degeneration.
Artifact Correction in Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Maps Using Deep Learning in Glaucoma
April 22, 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Poster Session
Mengyu Wang, PhD, a scientist at Mass Eye and Ear, developed a deep learning model to correct retinal nerve fiber layer thickness artifacts in glaucoma that may improve prediction accuracy of disease progression.
Featured Annual Meeting Presentations
High-dimensional Data Types to Big Data in Ocular Gene Discovery and Translation
April 23, 12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Paper Session
Elizabeth Rossin, MD, PhD, a retina specialist at Mass Eye and Ear, will share genetic associations and biological pathways that may contribute to epiretinal membrane. Kinga Bujakowska, PhD, who studies genetic causes of inherited retinal disorders at Mass Eye and Ear, shares her recent work, which tested genetic causality with a high throughput splicing assay.
Inherited Retinal Degeneration: From Diagnosis to Treatment
April 23, 12:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Paper Session
Bruce Ksander, PhD, an associate scientist at Mass Eye and Ear, will share his latest research on a novel gene therapy that was shown to restore vision loss in a nonhuman primate model of NAION.
Glaucoma Data Science
April 23, 3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Paper Session
Nazlee Zebardast, MD, MSc, a glaucoma specialist at Mass Eye and Ear, explains how she used feature space mapping of deep learning to identify novel image-based phenotypes that can be used for genome-wide analyses and discovery.
Epigenetic Landscape in Ocular Health and Disease
April 24, 11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Mini Symposium
Ayellet V. Segrè, PhD, MSc, a genetic biostatistician at Mass Eye and Ear, will discuss how epigenetics combined with human genetic studies can help elucidate the mechanisms that lead to complex eye diseases like glaucoma and AMD.
Gene-independent Therapeutic Approaches for Treatment of Retinal Disease
April 25, 8:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Mini Symposium
Constance Cepko, PhD, a Professor of Genetics and Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, will discuss the use of gene therapy to prolong cone survival.
Aqueous Humor Neurofilament Light Chain Is a Marker of Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma
April 25, 3:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Poster Session
Jonathan Lin, MD, PGY-3 Harvard Ophthalmology resident, will present evidence that aqueous humor neurofilament light chain may have clinical utility as a marker of glaucomatous neurodegeneration.
Advances in Gene Therapy and Gene Editing for Ocular Disorders 2
April 26, 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Paper Session
Eric Pierce, MD, PhD, internationally renowned for his pioneering research on the molecular genetics of inherited retinal disorders, led the first clinical trial using CRISPR-Cas9 directly in patients. He will discuss the safety and efficacy of this therapy, known as EDIT-101, for the treatment of CEP290-associated retinal degeneration.
