Skip to content

Vision Research Events

Retinal Signaling Pathways Regulating Myopia

January 8, 2026 — 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Bethesda, MD

Machelle T. Pardue, PhD  

Acting Professor

Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine

Dr. Machelle T. Pardue's laboratory is interested in developing treatments and therapies for retinal disease. This work includes testing electrical stimulation and other pharmaceuticals for retinal degenerations, determining the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy, and using mouse models to investigate retinal mechanisms controlling refractive development.

For assistance, including the need for sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Ieva (Eve) Macionyte at ieva.macionyte@nih.gov

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) is pleased to support the NEI for their Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series. FAES programs complement the work of NIH in accomplishing its mission of seeking and applying fundamental knowledge about the biomedical sciences. FAES is committed to supporting the academic and professional advancement of our community of learners through a constantly evolving curriculum and award-winning learner-centered approach to faculty development. Our Academic Programs department offers high quality, innovative, and flexible online continuing education and training, and we support our faculty in delivering impactful learning experiences through courses and workshops designed and taught according to research-based best practices. To learn more and to register, visit education.faes.org.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDIxNDQwZmQtODRhNi00M2Y4…

Decoding Neuro-Immune Crosstalk in the CNS

January 15, 2026 — 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Bethesda, MD

Han-Yu Shih, PhD

Stadtman Investigator/ Chief NIRU NEI/NIH

Dr. Han-Yu Shih and the Neuro-Immune Regulome Unit (NIRU) aims to understand the mechanisms that precisely regulate gene expression in lymphoid cells through multidisciplinary genomic approaches. Lymphoid cells communicate the perturbation of homeostasis by production of cytokines, dysregulation of which results in neural and ocular inflammation in many disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, uveitis, and age-related macular degeneration.

For assistance, including the need for sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Ieva (Eve) Macionyte at ieva.macionyte@nih.gov

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) is pleased to support the NEI for their Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series. FAES programs complement the work of NIH in accomplishing its mission of seeking and applying fundamental knowledge about the biomedical sciences. FAES is committed to supporting the academic and professional advancement of our community of learners through a constantly evolving curriculum and award-winning learner-centered approach to faculty development. Our Academic Programs department offers high quality, innovative, and flexible online continuing education and training, and we support our faculty in delivering impactful learning experiences through courses and workshops designed and taught according to research-based best practices. To learn more and to register, visit education.faes.org.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDIxNDQwZmQtODRhNi00M2Y4…

Aging RPE and Plasma Membrane Integrity

February 12, 2026 — 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Bethesda, MD

Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD

Associate Professor

School of Medicine, University of California

Dr. Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk's lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanism of aging in the age-related eye and brain conditions. They study processes regulating gene expression in age-related diseases, with emphasis on how aging affects cellular, metabolic, and transcriptional programs. Mechanism of senescence and polyunsaturated fatty acids metabolism are the two major areas of interest in the lab.

For assistance, including the need for sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Ieva (Eve) Macionyte at ieva.macionyte@nih.gov

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) is pleased to support the NEI for their Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series. FAES programs complement the work of NIH in accomplishing its mission of seeking and applying fundamental knowledge about the biomedical sciences. FAES is committed to supporting the academic and professional advancement of our community of learners through a constantly evolving curriculum and award-winning learner-centered approach to faculty development. Our Academic Programs department offers high quality, innovative, and flexible online continuing education and training, and we support our faculty in delivering impactful learning experiences through courses and workshops designed and taught according to research-based best practices. To learn more and to register, visit education.faes.org.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDIxNDQwZmQtODRhNi00M2Y4…

Recruitment of Primate Oculomotor Networks for Abstract Cognition

March 5, 2026 — 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Bethesda, MD

David Freedman, PhD

Professor

University of Chicago

Dr. David Freedman and his laboratory use advanced neurophysiological and behavioral techniques, in parallel with machine learning approaches for studying cognitive computations in artificial neural networks. Together, their work is providing insights into the brain mechanisms of visual learning, recognition and decision making.

For assistance, including the need for sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Ieva (Eve) Macionyte at ieva.macionyte@nih.gov

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) is pleased to support the NEI for their Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series. FAES programs complement the work of NIH in accomplishing its mission of seeking and applying fundamental knowledge about the biomedical sciences. FAES is committed to supporting the academic and professional advancement of our community of learners through a constantly evolving curriculum and award-winning learner-centered approach to faculty development. Our Academic Programs department offers high quality, innovative, and flexible online continuing education and training, and we support our faculty in delivering impactful learning experiences through courses and workshops designed and taught according to research-based best practices. To learn more and to register, visit education.faes.org.

 

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDIxNDQwZmQtODRhNi00M2Y4…

Cellular and Molecular Dynamics Shaping the Vertebrate Eye

March 26, 2026 — 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm ET

Bethesda, MD

Kristen Kwan, PhD

Professor

University of Utah

Dr. Kristen Kwan and her laboratory study the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue morphogenesis: the process by which a group of cells achieves its proper cellular organization and shape. Using the vertebrate eye as a model, they want to understand how the cells that comprise the vertebrate optic cup – neural retina, retinal pigmented epithelium, and lens – form the stereotyped structure that is critical for visual function.

For assistance, including the need for sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Ieva (Eve) Macionyte at ieva.macionyte@nih.gov

The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) is pleased to support the NEI for their Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series. FAES programs complement the work of NIH in accomplishing its mission of seeking and applying fundamental knowledge about the biomedical sciences. FAES is committed to supporting the academic and professional advancement of our community of learners through a constantly evolving curriculum and award-winning learner-centered approach to faculty development. Our Academic Programs department offers high quality, innovative, and flexible online continuing education and training, and we support our faculty in delivering impactful learning experiences through courses and workshops designed and taught according to research-based best practices. To learn more and to register, visit education.faes.org.

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDIxNDQwZmQtODRhNi00M2Y4…

The Division of Intramural Research Seminar Series

A public lecture series, hosted by the NEI Intramural Research Program on the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Learn more


Retinal Disease Interest Group Research Seminars 

The goal of RDIG is to promote interactions among scientists interested in biology, pathogenesis and treatments of syndromic diseases involving visual dysfunction or diseases of the neuronal tissue. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in lively discussions.  Learn more 


Sayer Vision Research Lecture and Award Series 

In 2006, Dr. Jane Sayer, a National Institute of Health (NIH) research scientist in National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), established the Sayer Vision Research Lecture and Award at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), in partnership with the National Eye Institute (NEI) at NIH, to honor her family and the memory of her parents, Winthrop and Laura Sayer. 

The lecture and award series provides an opportunity for honorees to explore areas of interdisciplinary collaboration, such as angiogenesis, that may lead to advances in diverse medical specialties with relevance to vision research. A number of factors place vision science in a position for major advances in the near future-including the large number of identified genes relevant to eye disease and the relative ease with which pathology can be visualized and documented in the eye. Learn more


Joram Piatigorsky Basic Science Lecture 

Made possible by the generous philanthropic support of Lona and Joram Piatigorsky, this series brings attention to notable basic sciences contributions by eye and vision scientists to a diverse general scientific audience, such as experts in molecular biology, genetics, developmental biology, neuroscience, and computer science. With special consideration for basic eye and vision scientists who take risks exploring little-studied species and imaginative ideas, the Lecture and Award promotes and communicates basic discoveries in eye and vision research that result in far-reaching observations that may inform widespread areas of science—from the eye to the world as it were—rather than the other way around.  Learn more 

Last updated: November 13, 2025