#  Lois E. H. Smith, MD, PhD, to Receive Ludwig von Sallmann Prize 

 





August 10, 2026

 

 

   ![smith_lois_250x250.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum9886/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/eye/files/smith_lois_250x250.jpg?itok=OKtpj8fi) 

 

[Lois Smith, MD, PhD](/loissmith "Lois E. H. Smith, MD, PhD"), Professor of Ophthalmology at HMS, is being recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to vision research and ophthalmology with the 2026 Ludwig von Sallmann Prize. Dr. Smith has dedicated her career to understanding the mechanisms behind blinding diseases, including retinopathy of prematurity; retinitis pigmentosa; age-related macular degeneration; and diabetic retinopathy, and finding new ways to treat them.

Her early work defined oxygen-induced retinopathy, where she showed VEGF is necessary for ischemia-induced proliferative retinopathy. Dr. Smith also defined the role of growth hormone and IGF-1 in retinopathy, and has shown that omega-3 fatty acids are critical to retinopathy and that modulating the omega-3 /omega-6 ratio in retina can inhibit pathological angiogenesis. Her more recent research has focused on metabolic function in photoreceptors, driving neovascularization. Much of this work has been translated to clinical trials. Dr. Smith will receive the award at the International Society for Eye Research meeting in Spain later this month.



 

 

 



 

 

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