NEI
Tumminia named NEI deputy director
Santa J. Tumminia, Ph.D., was appointed Deputy Director of the National Eye Institute (NEI) on November 12.
“Dr. Tumminia brings to the deputy post a deep understanding of vision research and a wealth of experience managing science...
NIH researchers discover neural code that predicts behavior
Scientists at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have found that neurons in the superior colliculus, an ancient midbrain structure found in all vertebrates, are key players in allowing us to detect visual objects and events. This structure doesn’t...
NIH solicits next-generation retina organoids in prize competition
A competition for radical ideas in the fight against blindness will move to its next phase by challenging participants to build functioning human retina prototypes. The National Eye Institute (NEI) 3-D Retina Organoid Challenge (NEI 3-D ROC 2020...
NEI support paved early pathway for novel glaucoma therapies
The recent approval of two novel medications for glaucoma – the first new medications for the disorder in nearly 18 years – are fruit borne from decades of foundational scientific research supported by the National Eye Institute (NEI). The two...
Fifty years of vision research opens window into the brain
The eye is more than a window to the soul; it is a window to the brain. To highlight the important connection between vision science and neuroscience, the NIH’s National Eye Institute is kicking off its 50th anniversary celebration...
Helping the retina regenerate
A new report gives recommendations for regenerating retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), crucial neurons in the back of the eye that carry visual information to the brain. Authored by Monica Vetter, Ph.D., University of Utah, and Peter Hitchcock, Ph.D...
Visual cortex plays role in plasticity of eye movement reflex
By peering into the eyes of mice and tracking their ocular movements, researchers made an unexpected discovery: the visual cortex – a region of the brain known to process sensory information – plays a key role in promoting the plasticity of...
Statement by NEI Director Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., on National Academies’ report outlining public health strategies to promote and protect healthy vision for all Americans
Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) released “Making Eye Health A Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow.” The report culminates two years of in-depth analysis and discussion...
Use it or Lose it: Visual Activity Regenerates Neural Connections Between Eye and Brain
A study in mice funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows for the first time that high-contrast visual stimulation can help damaged retinal neurons regrow optic nerve fibers, otherwise known as retinal ganglion cell axons. In...
NEI Scientist Receives Research Grant from Knights Templar Eye Foundation
NEI research fellow Nathan Hotaling, PhD, has been awarded a $65,000 grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation to develop a stem cell-based system to study Best disease, a genetic disorder that can cause progressive vision loss. The system...