RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
8:30 AM – 12 PM

 The Research Symposium, co-sponsored by the Vickie and Jack Farber Vision Research Center at Wills Eye, highlights three cutting-edge topics relevant to vision research and features a renowned faculty of clinicians, scientists, and thought leaders who will share their latest findings and solutions. Free and available in person and via live stream.

REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

WELCOME

ZEBA A. SYED, MD
Conference Chair

JULIA A. HALLER, MD
Ophthalmologist-in-Chief and William Tasman, MD Endowed Chair, Wills Eye Hospital

LESLIE HYMAN, PhD
Vice Chair, Vickie and Jack Farber Vision Research Center at Wills Eye

Session 1: Current Challenges in Myopia and Refractive Error Research

The 2024 National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Consensus Study Focus on Myopia
Terri L. Young, MD, MBA

The Effect of Myopia on the Retinal Neurovascular Unit
Alexandra Benavente, MCOptom PhD FAAO FARVO

Challenges in Identifying Risk Factors for Myopia
Lisa Ostrin, OD, PhD, FAAO, FARVO

Moderator: Kammi B. Gunton, MD

BREAK

CELL REGENERATION

Endothelial Cell Therapy: Culture to Clinic
Jodhbir S. Mehta, BSc, MBBS, FRCOphth, FRCS(Ed), FAMS, PhD

Adult RPE Stem Cell Therapy for Dry AMD
Jeffrey Stern, PhD, MD

Cell Regeneration for the Ocular Surface
Albert Y. Wu, MD, PhD, FACS

Moderator: Ajay E. Kuriyan, MD

CLOSING REMARKS
Zeba A. Syed, MD, Conference Chair

ADJOURN