Iowa Eye Association News Sept, 2001. Series 2, no. 36.

University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

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Grants & Research

Department Receives Support from Research to Prevent Blindness

In early 2001, the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences received a $110,000 grant from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), the world's leading voluntary organization that supports eye research. "These unrestricted research funds will enable faculty to initiate and continue clinical and basic research in a variety of potentially blinding conditions, including macular degeneration and glaucoma," said Dr. Weingeist. "Without the ongoing support of RPB it would not be possible for us to remain on the cutting edge of research and technology that has characterized our department," he added.
To date, RPB has awarded grants totaling more than $2.1 million in research support to UI researchers in the department. $1.8 million of this has been awarded since Dr. Weingeist became head of the department in 1986.

At 55 medical institutions nationwide, RPB supports investigations into blinding eye diseases, including macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal disease, retinitis pigmentosa, amblyopia, strabismus, and uveitis. Since it was founded in 1960, RPB has channeled $166 million into eye research at medical institutions throughout the United States. Find out more about RPB at their website.

Knights Templar Eye Foundation Supports Center for Macular Degeneration

The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration's Low Vision Service received a $150,000 grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation to help provide funding to people who would benefit from low vision devices but who do not have the financial resources to acquire them. The award includes a $100,000 contribution from the national organization and a $50,000 contribution from the organization's Iowa group.

The Center for Macular Degeneration also received a grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation to produce two video programs promoting eye research.

The Knights Templar Eye Foundation was formed in 1956 to provide assistance to those who face loss of sight and to aid ophthalmology research. The foundation is sponsored by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar. More information about Knights Templar Eye Foundation is available on the web.

Other Grants Help Fund Faculty Research Projects

Drs. Young Kwon and Randy Kardon won a research grant from the Glaucoma Foundation. The research proposal title is "Neural stem cell transplants: A novel strategy for the treatment of glaucoma." The principal investigator is Donald Sakaguchi, PhD, from Iowa State University, with Dr. Kardon, Dr. Kwon, and Dr. Sonea (from ISU) as co-investigators. The total award is $35,000 to begin September 2001. In 2000, they also won an Interinstitutional grant between Iowa State University and the University of Iowa for the same project.

Dr. Kardon is also involved with two National Institutes of Health (National Eye Institute) Small Business Initiative of Research Grants with Kestrel Corporation. The first, "Optical Imaging Device of Retinal Function," includes Dr. Young Kwon as well as Dr. Dan Tso (Syracuse) and Dr. Peter Soliz (Kestrel Corp.). The second, "Super Resolution Adaptive Optics Fundus Camera," includes Dr. Stephen Russell as well as Dr. Soliz.

Researchers at the University of Iowa's Center for Macular Degeneration received a two-year, $3.3 million contract from the National Eye Institute (NEI) for their project, "Gene Discovery in the Visual System." The team's goal is to identify 30,000 different genes expressed in various regions of the human eye. The study's principle investigator is M. Bento Soares, PhD, UI associate professor of pediatrics, and physiology and biophysics. He will work with several co-principal investigators from the University of Iowa including professors of ophthalmology and visual sciences, Edwin M. Stone, MD, PhD and Gregory S. Hageman, PhD.