Alliance for Vision Research

10/15/2026

Paws, puppies, and pure happiness! 🐾❤️🐶
One of the sweetest highlights of in New Orleans was Puppy Time!

Between the excitement of the conference, inspiring conversations, and nonstop activity, nothing beat taking a moment to unwind, soak up some puppy love, and enjoy a few irresistible cuddles. A little reminder that sometimes the best way to recharge comes with four paws and a wagging tail!

10/07/2026

🔬 Emerging Vision Scientist Program Spotlight: Dahong Chen, PhD

Dr. Chen is Assistant Professor at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo and a member of our 2026 Emerging Vision Scientist Program cohort.

Dr. Chen’s research asks a fundamental question: How do the light-sensing cells of the eye stay healthy, and why do they fail in blinding diseases?

His laboratory studies rod cells, the eye’s most abundant light detectors and among the first cells lost in many retinal degenerative diseases. His team discovered a protein that acts as a master organizer of how DNA is folded inside these cells, influencing thousands of genes during development.

By uncovering the biological rules that keep these critical cells alive, his research could help open new paths toward preventing or slowing vision loss. This is the science and the scientist behind why sustained investment in vision research matters.

10/05/2026

Alliance for Vision Research recently brought leading experts to Capitol Hill for our Congressional Briefing on myopia, examining the growing impact of myopia, particularly among children, and the research needed to better understand, prevent, and slow its progression.

Featuring Jeffrey Walline, OD, PhD, FAAO, Dean of The Ohio State University College of Optometry and Immediate Past President of the American Academy of Optometry, and Catherine “Cate” Jordan, MD, pediatric ophthalmologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and Associate Professor at The Ohio State University, the briefing explored advances in myopia research and management and why continued federal investment matters.

Held as part of our 2026 Emerging Vision Scientist Program, the briefing brought science directly to policymakers on Capitol Hill. Missed it? Watch the full briefing now and help Congress . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxf-qbByDH0!

Alliance for Vision Research brought leading experts to Capitol Hil...

10/01/2026

What an amazing start to the American Academy of Optometry’s annual meeting in Anaheim! The exhibit hall is officially open, and we’re excited to connect with colleagues, partners, researchers, and friends from across the vision community.

Stop by Booth 657 to say hello—and check out our giveaways. 👀 The eyes have it!

Hope to see you this week!

09/28/2026

It was inspiring to stand alongside advocates, researchers, clinicians, and organizations at the 2026 Rally for Medical Research Hill Day united in advocating for robust, sustained funding for NIH and the lifesaving research it makes possible.

Alliance for Vision Research was honored to serve as a Bronze Sponsor, adding the voice of the vision research community to this important national effort. When we invest in research, we invest in discovery, better treatments, and healthier futures.

09/18/2026

This is what bringing science to Capitol Hill looks like. 🇺🇸👁️ One of the most meaningful parts of the Alliance for Vision Research’s Emerging Vision Scientist Program is giving early-career researchers the opportunity to move beyond the laboratory and engage directly with the policymakers whose decisions shape the future of federally funded research.

We were honored that members of our Georgia team had the opportunity to meet with U.S. Office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff during this year’s program. These are the experiences this program is designed to create.

We bring scientists to Washington to find their voices as advocates, sharing their discoveries, why federal investment matters, and what is at stake for patients. When researchers speak directly with congressional leaders, the science becomes personal, federal investment has a face, and the next generation discovers the power of their own voices.

We are incredibly proud of this program and the lifelong advocates it is helping to develop. This is how we help Congress .

09/16/2026

What does a group of dedicated, driven, compassionate, patient-focused vision researchers and advocates look like?

This.

Standing together at the U.S. Capitol, these Emerging Vision Scientists represent far more than the future of vision research. They represent the people waiting for the next discovery, the next treatment, the next breakthrough that could protect or restore their sight. They came to Washington not only as scientists, but as advocates, ready to tell policymakers why federal investment in vision research matters and why the work happening in laboratories across the country ultimately comes down to something deeply human: people and their ability to see.

This is passion with purpose.
This is science with a voice.
This is advocacy driven by patients.
This is the future of vision research.

This is what it means to . And looking at this group, that future has never looked brighter.

09/09/2026

We’re gearing up for our 2026 Emerging Vision Scientists Program with a record 42 incredible vision researchers coming to Capitol Hill!

The program continues to grow year after year, and at a time when federal research funding faces significant uncertainty, preparing the next generation of scientist-advocates has never been more important.

Our Emerging Vision Scientists will bring their research directly to Congress, showing policymakers what federal investment makes possible and what is at stake for the future of sight.

Vision scientists: Watch for 2027 applications. Bring your science. Bring your voice. Help Congress .

09/02/2026

Yesterday, we were proud to join our partners at the Vision Health Advocacy Coalition (VHAC), a coalition of the Alliance for Patient Access, for its Stakeholder Meeting, bringing together organizations committed to advancing vision and eye health.

Partnerships like VHAC are essential to our work. They allow us to share priorities, strengthen our collective voice, and identify opportunities for action on the issues affecting patients, providers, researchers, and the entire vision community.

From the EDVI Act and what’s happening in Washington to insurance barriers, the payer landscape, and priorities for 2027, these conversations are exactly why we ask policymakers and the public to : protecting sight requires a strong, connected vision community working together. We are grateful for our VHAC partners and our shared commitment to making vision and eye health a national priority.

08/19/2026

How important is your independence? The ability to drive. Read a book. Recognize the faces of the people you love. Work, travel, and confidently navigate the world around you. Most of us take these everyday moments for granted—until they're at risk.

Blinding eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and countless others can gradually steal that independence. And as our population ages and conditions like diabetes and high myopia become more common, the number of Americans living with vision loss continues to grow.

But it doesn't have to be this way. Breakthroughs in vision research are bringing us closer than ever to new treatments—and ultimately cures. With sustained investment in the National Eye Institute and the brilliant researchers driving innovation, we can protect sight and preserve independence for millions.

Contact your Members of Congress and urge them to make vision research a national priority. Together, we can help everyone . https://eyeresearch.org/take-action/contact-congress/