Press Release

Novel Cell Atlas for Multiple Human Tissues Reveals Discoveries Underlying Complex Diseases

June 13, 2022

Scientists from the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard have developed a first-of-its-kind cross-tissue cell atlas, and in collaboration with a team of Mass Eye and Ear researchers led by Ayellet V. Segrè, PhD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, have uncovered new clues for specific cell types and genes involved in complex diseases.... Read more about Novel Cell Atlas for Multiple Human Tissues Reveals Discoveries Underlying Complex Diseases

The back of the eye in a patient with AMD, showing multiple large drusen deposits and pigment changes

Researchers identify potential biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration

September 12, 2017

Findings may lead to earlier diagnoses and better prognostic information for patients — and, potentially, new pharmaceutical targets for AMD treatment.

Boston, Mass. — Patients with any stage of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) carry signs of the disease in their blood that may be found through special laboratory tests, according to a new study led by AMD researchers based at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. The study, ...

Read more about Researchers identify potential biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration
Mass Eye and Ear Malden location

Massachusetts Eye and Ear expands to Malden

March 6, 2017

Boston, Mass. — Massachusetts Eye and Ear opened a new ophthalmology (eye care) practice at 578 Main Street in Malden, Mass., on March 6. Mass. Eye and Ear, Malden is the hospital’s 19th location designed to bring the expertise of Mass. Eye and Ear specialists to the surrounding greater Boston area.

The Malden location offers comprehensive ophthalmology, including cataract surgery and contact lenses, as well as eye plastics services. The practice office also...

Read more about Massachusetts Eye and Ear expands to Malden
Researchers identify factors responsible for chronic nature of autoimmune disease

Researchers identify factors responsible for chronic nature of autoimmune disease

January 4, 2017

Boston, Mass. — Researchers from Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear have uncovered two factors responsible for the chronic, lifelong nature of autoimmune disorders, which tend to “flare up” intermittently in affected patients. These two factors are cell-signaling proteins called cytokines—specifically Interleukin-7 and -15 (IL-7 and IL-15)—that are secreted by cells of the immune system and help modulate memory Th17 cells, a subset of T cells which are known to contribute to autoimmune disorders. Until now, it was unclear how Th17 cells...

Read more about Researchers identify factors responsible for chronic nature of autoimmune disease
Luk Vandenberghe

Luk H. Vandenberghe, PhD, receives RPB Nelson Trust Award for Retinitis Pigmentosa

December 21, 2016

Boston, Mass. — Luk H. Vandenberghe, PhD, Director of the Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, has been awarded a Nelson Trust Award for Retinitis Pigmentosa by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) in the amount of $100,000 over two years. The Nelson Trust Award was established to stimulate, strengthen and accelerate research to improve...

Read more about Luk H. Vandenberghe, PhD, receives RPB Nelson Trust Award for Retinitis Pigmentosa
New glasses may help minimize peripheral vision loss

New glasses may help minimize peripheral vision loss

December 19, 2016

Information for this release was provided by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Rockville, Md. — Vision scientists may have discovered how to reduce pedestrian collisions in crowded and chaotic open space environments like bus terminals, shopping malls and city plazas involving individuals with partial blindness. Researchers have determined from which direction collisions with partially blind pedestrians are most likely to originate. This understanding will guide the development of new glasses that expand the sight of a person...

Read more about New glasses may help minimize peripheral vision loss

Mass. Eye and Ear offering new treatment to stop progressive vision loss in patients with keratoconus

October 12, 2016

Ophthalmologists at Mass. Eye and Ear among the most experienced nationwide with newly FDA-approved corneal cross-linking procedure

Boston, Mass. — Ophthalmologists at Massachusetts Eye and Ear are currently accepting patients who may be candidates for a newly FDA-approved outpatient procedure known as “corneal cross-linking.” Corneal cross-linking is a stabilizing treatment to halt the progression of keratoconus, a...

Read more about Mass. Eye and Ear offering new treatment to stop progressive vision loss in patients with keratoconus
Researchers shed light on repair mechanism for severe corneal injuries

Researchers shed light on repair mechanism for severe corneal injuries

October 3, 2016

New findings may pave the way for the development of pharmaceutical therapies to reverse corneal scarring

Boston, Mass. —  In cases of severe ocular trauma involving the cornea, wound healing occurs following intervention, but at the cost of opaque scar tissue formation and damaged vision. Recent research has shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) — which can differentiate into a variety of cells, including bone, cartilage, muscle and fat cells — are capable of returning clarity to scarred corneas; however, the mechanisms by which...

Read more about Researchers shed light on repair mechanism for severe corneal injuries