Past Events

Elizabeth Buffalo, Ph.D.
Chair & Professor, Department of Physiology and Biophysics
University of Washington

This seminar is now exclusively virtual.

Constance Cepko, Ph.D.
Bullard Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience
Harvard University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Event: Advancing the Use and Development of Common Data Elements (CDE) in Research Workshop

• Format: Hybrid (Online and In-Person)

• Register: Advancing the Use and Development of Common Data Elements in Research Workshop

We are excited to announce the upcoming ODSS Common Data Elements (CDE) Workshop, hosted by the NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS). 

This two-day workshop will take place on March 6-7, 2024, at the Natcher Conference Center in Bethesda, MD. This workshop aims to bring together expert panels, researchers, professional societies, and patient organizations to explore the value, resources, and applications of CDEs. 

Our speakers will cover a range of pertinent topics, including: 

• The value of CDEs
• Current NIH resources for CDEs
• Technical implementation aspects and approaches to enhancing interoperability
• Overcoming barriers in CDE adoption in community research
• Use cases for preparing and applying CDEs to intelligent technologies

Please mark your calendars and prepare to join us for this informative and engaging workshop. 

Felice Dunn, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology
University of California, San Francisco

Hybrid event

The National Advisory Eye Council (NAEC) comprises 12 external members from the vision community who are charged by law to help guide institute activities. NEI gathers input from members and the public during meetings held three times per year. Council has purview on all NEI matters, including policy, planning, and extramural research programs. Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET.  Agenda​.   

Massimo Scanziani, Ph.D.
Professor/HHMI Investigator
University of California, San Francisco/HHMI

Hybrid event (in-person and online)

Yang Sun, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Ophthalmology
Stanford University

Outcome of Workshop:  This workshop revealed multiple mechanisms of NeuroPlasticity, moving well beyond the classic phenomena of long term potentiation and depression (LTP/LTD). Seventeen expert participants reported on studies ranging from retinal to cortical, and from molecular to behavioral. Eight principles were identified:

• Neuroplasticity is driven by biological mechanisms that work to restore the local circuit balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I balance).
• Sensory deprivation acts as a perturbation to the E/I balance.
• Homeostatic processes work toward maintenance of function and they decline with age.
• Non-neuronal cells and gap junctions contribute to and provide structural and molecular support for change.
• Representational shifts occur via polysynaptic reweighting and involve neuronal ensembles.
• Redundancy and reciprocity are hallmarks of resilience and agents for change.
• Polysynaptic reweighting may occur within subcortical structures, and in thalamocortical or corticocortical projections, with the later exhibiting the most obvious adult plasticity.
• Calculated sensory degradation stimuli may encourage neuroplasticity by taking advantage of biological reweighting algorithms.

Read the full analysis in the Visual NeuroPlasticity Workshop Report

**THIS SEMINAR IS CANCELLED**

Robert Fariss, PhD
Chief of the Biological Imaging Core Facility
National Eye Institute
Advanced imaging techniques reveal insights into retinal ultrastructure and pathology

4-5pm

Hybrid event (in-person and online)

Edward Pugh, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy
University of California, Davis

Hybrid event (in-person and online)

Radha Ayyagari, Ph.D.
Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology
University of California, San Diego

Lore Thaler, Ph.D. 
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Durham University

Please note: This seminar will be virtual only.

Workshop on Cerebral/cortical visual impairment to grow the CVI research pool, establish criteria, diagnostics, metrics, and testing parameters, develop and validate evidence-based, age-appropriate test batteries and intervention protocols, and more.

Hosted by:

• National Eye Institute (NEI)
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human  Development (NICHD)
• National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS)

Learn more

Ahmara Ross, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology
University of Pennsylvania

Kwabena Boahen, Ph.D.
Professor of Bioengineering & Electrical Engineering
Stanford University

Hybrid event (in-person and online)