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2024 Grant Recipients

Congratulations to our latest group of researchers!

Shaunt Abnous

Loyola

The Therapeutic Effect of Probiotic Metabolite MQ on Experimental Dry Eye Mouse Models

Mizna Akbar

U of C

Impact of Pi-PEG on P. aeruginosa Virulence in Corneal Epithelium
Raj Barot
UIC

Protecting retinal neurons using extracellular vesicles

Jay Bisen
Northwestern
Integrating Multimodal Retinal Imaging Metrics in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Risk Assessment for Heart Transplant Recipients: An Exploratory Approach to Enhance Long-Term Survival
Anna Busza
Northwestern
Applying Optical Coherence Tomography-Angiography of the Retina to Advance our Understanding of the Pathogenesis and Progression of Long Covid
Andrea Cuamatzi Castelan

Rush

Role of L-DOPA in the progression of age-related macular degeneration to neovascular age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy
Abhijith Eathara
UIC
Predictive Model for Uveal Melanoma Prognosis
Rohith Erukulla

UIC

Comparing Gradient Changes in Retinal Layer Thickness Maps and Microvasculature to Differentiate between Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Old Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Justin Flood

Hines VA Hospital

The Association Between Non-infectious Uveitis and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans

Dr. Shawn Gulati
Default Image Team

Northwestern

Establishing IOP Volatility Control before and after MIGS and Cataract Surgery: KDB Goniotomy and Hydrus Microstent

Trevor Hale
Loyola
Assessing the inflammatory immune response of patients with hematopoietic malignancies undergoing chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) over time through cytokine and leukocyte analysis
Dr. Sasha Hubschman
Default Image Team
UID
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features of Orbital Masses with Histopathologic Correlation /em>
Divya Kapoor
Default Image Team
UIC
Inhibition of syndecan-1 shedding attenuates HSV-1 spread
Maha Khokhar
Loyola
Dreiske Awardee
Antioxidant Effect of XJB-5-131 on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells and Neutrophils
Shivani Majmudar
UIC
Bridging the Eye-Care Gap among Chicago’s Homeless Population
Dr. Nikita Mokhashi
U of C
Further Investigation of Black Race as a Protective Factor in Retinopathy of Prematurity
Dr. Tochukwu
Ndukwe
UIC
Knowledge and Attitudes of Glaucoma Patients Regarding the Use of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Open-Angle Glaucoma
Christopher Phung

U of C

Fecal Short Chain Fatty Acids in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Dr. Janani Rajasekar

UIC

Resilience of retinal vasculature to diabetic retinopathy

Ravi Ria

Loyola

Riluzole protects photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelia cells from blue light-induced injury in vitro

Kurt Schimmelbusch

Midwestern/Stroger

Incidence of cystoid macular edema and changes in choroidal thickness after MicroPulse and traditional trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation

Dr. Pankaj Sharma

UIC
McKechnie Awardee

ReticulovER Inhibits Ocular HSV-1 Infection by Inducing a Robust UPR Response to Curb Virally-Induced ER-Stress

Varun Shravah

Loyola

Development of an Ex Vivo Choroidal Sprouting Assay from Human Donor Tissue

Dr. Aumer
Shughoury
Default Image Team

Northwestern

Clinical Outcomes in Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma

Sean Smith

University of Chicago

Racial differences in quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography findings between diabetics with and without diabetic retinopathy.

Chandana
Sooranahalli

Loyola

The potential roles of IL-1beta, IL-6, and HMGB1 in the pathogenesis of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

Julien Stroumza

Loyola

Blood Biomarker Profile in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy

Stephanie Tan

Loyola

The Potential Roles of Caspase-1/IL-1β signaling, HIF-1α, and VEGF in Blood Samples Collected from Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Implications in the Pathogenesis of Diabetic Retinopathy

Dr. Josiah To
Default Image Team

Stroger

Efficacy of a 3D Printed Smartphone Head-mount for Bedside Fundus Imaging as a Teaching Tool for Residents and Medical Students

Dr. Lee Troughton

Loyola

Investigating the contribution of paxillin to primary open angle glaucoma pathogenesis

Dr. Andrew Voigt

Northwestern
Bass Awardee

Using spatial transcriptomics to resolve human pro-angiogenic macrophages in neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Dr. Ellen Yang
Default Image Team

Stroger

Awareness of Early Refill Law amongst Illinois Eye Care Providers
Sharon Zhao

Northwestern/Lurie Children’s Hospital

Monitoring for keratoconus in a US pediatric population with high astigmatism: rates of progression and patient characteristics

AWARD WINNERS

October 2024 Newsletter From ISPB & PBIL

Contact Safety Month ISPB and PBIL have declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month. The purpose of the awareness initiative is to educate the public on the proper use of contact...

October is Contact Lens Safety Month

ISPB and Prevent Blindness Illinois (PBIL) have once again declared October as Contact Lens Safety Month. The purpose of the awareness initiative is to educate the public on the...

My Retina Tracker Genetic Testing Program

Do you have a clinical diagnosis of inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) and live in the United States and/or the US territories? The Foundation Fighting Blindness, in partnership with Blueprint...

New Resources for Reducing Eye Strain from Screens

In response to increased virtual and screen-based activities during the coronavirus pandemic, ISPB and Prevent Blindness Illinois have launched a new awareness campaign,, Take a Screen Time Out. All...