Mass. Eye and Ear and HMS department of ophthalmology receives RPB Grant

Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) has awarded a grant of $110,000 to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary to support research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blinding diseases. The research will be directed by Joan W. Miller, M.D., Chief of the Mass. Eye and Ear and Mass. General Hospital's Departments of Ophthalmology and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School.

"Mass. Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School are thankful for the generous grants from Research to Prevent Blindness, which allow our researchers to continue to seek out improved disease management, treatment and future cures for our patients by continuing important research into the causes of vision loss," said Dr. Miller.

The Mass. Eye and Ear/Mass General Department of Ophthalmology is one of the world's premier centers for excellence in ophthalmic clinical care, research and education. Fields of investigation currently under intensive study include: retinal degeneration, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa; diabetic retinopathy; glaucoma and other optic neuropathies; corneal and ocular surface diseases; and all aspects of ocular therapeutics and surgery. Recently, research has expanded in specialty fields such as outcomes, genomics and genetics, gene-base therapies, ocular immunology, cell biology and angiogenesis. As the seat of Ophthalmology leadership for Harvard Medical School, the Department builds on the strengths of affiliated faculty from such renowned local institutions as Joslin Diabetes Center, Children's Hospital Boston, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Veteran's Administration Healthcare System to encourage innovation and remain a global leader in ophthalmology.

Provided by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary