Harvard Ophthalmology at ARVO 2025

Harvard Ophthalmology was well represented at this year’s Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. Faculty, trainees, and alumni from across the department participated as panelists, lecturers, and presenters. We also welcomed more than 225 guests at our annual ARVO Alumni Reception on Sunday evening.

Congratulations to all our faculty and alumni who received ARVO awards for their outstanding contributions to vision research.

Connie Cepko, PhD, Recognized with Friedenwald Award
Dr. Connie Cepko received this award for her research on the development of diseases of the retina, specifically regarding the mechanisms of cell fate determination through the analysis of the behavior of progenitor and stem cells, and developing gene-agnostic gene therapy to prolong vision.

Mohit Parekh, PhD, Receives EyeFind Research Grant
Dr. Mohit Parekh, a cornea research fellow at Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear, is a recipient of the 2024 EyeFind Research Grant. This award will support Mohit's research on the role of age on the migration speed of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy cells for Descemet’s Stripping.

Alumnus Dimitrios Karamichos, PhD, MSc, Honored with Achievements in Eye and Vision Advocacy Award
Dr. Dimitrios Karamichos was recognized for incorporating advocacy into his professional career. Dr. Karamichos is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacology & Neuroscience and Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and Executive Director and Endowed Chair of the North Texas Eye Research Institute.

Alumnus Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, Honored by ARVO Foundation
Dr. Paul Bernstein was recognized for his inspiring efforts to bring vitreoretinal services to the developing world and his dedicated service to ARVO. Dr. Bernstein is the Val A. and Edith D. Green Presidential Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Vice Chair for Clinical and Basic Science Research at Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah.

Faculty and Alumni Named ARVO Fellows
Congratulations to the faculty and alumni members of the ARVO Fellows Class of 2025, who were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Association and the field of vision research.

Gold Fellow
Neena B. Haider, PhD (former faculty)

Silver Fellows
Ula Jurkunas, MD
Dimitrios Karamichos, PhD, MSc (alumnus)
Daisy Shu, PhD (alumna, former faculty)
Akitaka Tsujikawa, MD, PhD (alumnus)