Vision Research Workshop

The Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences is organizing its 12th Annual Vision Research Workshop on October 15, 2025, to highlight the research accomplishments of our graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants/associates, residents, and clinical fellows. The goal of this workshop is to provide an outstanding opportunity for the vision community on the Wayne State University campus to interact, share their latest findings, and exchange ideas for future collaboration. 

 This year’s program will also feature distinguished guest lecturers whose groundbreaking work continues to shape the future of vision science and clinical translation. 

Inaugural Linda D. Hazlett, PhD, Vision Science Mentorship and Innovation Lecture   

Patricia A. D’Amore, PhD, MBA   

Dr. D’Amore is the Charles L. Schepens Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School, as well as Senior Scientist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. She has made seminal contributions to ocular vascular biology and angiogenesis, with discoveries that helped pave the way for anti-VEGF therapies that transformed the treatment of blinding retinal diseases. 

 A world-renowned scientist and mentor, Dr. D’Amore has trained more than 75 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who now hold leadership positions worldwide. She has served in leadership roles with ARVO, ISER, and NIH review panels, and on major editorial boards. Her many accolades include the 2014 António Champalimaud Vision Award (shared with Joan W. Miller, MD), the Proctor Medal from ARVO, and election as a Fellow of ARVO. Her lecture will honor Dr. Linda Hazlett’s legacy by highlighting the impact of mentorship, innovation, and translational discovery in advancing ophthalmology.

Robert N. Frank Clinical Translational Lectures   

Gary Abrams, MD   

Dr. Abrams, former Chair of the Kresge Eye Institute, is internationally recognized for his pioneering work in retina research and clinical care. His honors include the Paul Kayser International Award in Retina Research, the Pyron Award for Excellence in Retina Research, and election to the Wayne State University Academy of Scholars. He has been continuously recognized in Best Doctors in America since 1994, and endowed lectureships have been established in his honor at both the Kresge Eye Institute and the Medical College of Wisconsin. His research and clinical focus include artificial vision, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and macular diseases. 

Zhuo-Hua Pan, PhD   

Dr. Pan is internationally recognized for developing optogenetic strategies to restore vision in patients with retinal degeneration. His pioneering work using rAAV vectors to deliver channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) to surviving retinal neurons demonstrated the feasibility of restoring photosensitivity in animal models and has advanced to clinical trials. His ongoing research continues to refine optogenetic gene therapy for vision restoration. Dr. Pan is also a dedicated educator, teaching Medical Neuroscience to first-year medical students and serving as Course Director of Biology of the Eye for medical and graduate trainees. 

 Together, these distinguished speakers will provide workshop participants with cutting-edge insights into foundational and translational aspects of vision science, reflecting the workshop’s mission to bridge discovery with clinical impact.