2026 Grantees
Loyola University
Assessing the Ocular Surface Microbiome and Immune Profile in Dry Eye Disease Compared to Healthy Controls
Loyola University
Role of ET-1 in Reactive Astrocytosis
Northwestern University
Retinal Microvascular Health as a Window inot Neighborhood Disadvantage: Mapping Cardiovascular Risk Across Chicago Communities
U of C
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus in Adults Under 50: Clinical Phenotype, Risk Stratification, and Visual Outcomes in a Contemporary Cohort
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Effect of Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate on the Healing Process in Rabbits’ Ex Vivo Corneas
Loyola/CARES
Evaluating the Risk of Cystoid Macular Edema Among Veterans Undergoing Surgical and Non-Surgical Glaucoma Treatment
Loyola University
Artesunate Protects Photoreceptors and Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells from Oxidative Stress
Loyola/Hines VA Hospital
Effect of Ocular Surface Immunoglobulin on Particulate Matter Induced Oxidative Stress in Corneal Epithelial Cells
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
An Anatomically Informed Bioengineered Hydrogel Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration to Define Mechanical Drivers of Retinal Pigment Epithelium Dysfunction
Loyola
Modulation of Ocular Surface Inflammation in a Murine Dry Eye by a Novel Probiotic Metabolite
Northwestern University
Nonmydriatic Fundus Imaging in the Emergency Department: Impact of Ophthalmic Tele-triage on Diagnostic Latency and Consultation Utilization
Loyola
Effect of Ocular Surface Immune Globulins (OSIC) on Formation of Neutrophil Extracelluar Traps Elicited by Particulate Matter
University of Illinois Chicago
Real-Time Software for Hemorheological Analysis of the Conjunctival and Episcleral Microvasculature: Yield Stree, Resistive Index, and Velocity Pulse Quantification in Open-Angle Glaucoma
University of Illinois Chicago
Near-Infrared and Polarization-Based Illumination for Enhanced Retinal Visualization in Vitreoretinal Surgery
University of Illinois Chicago
Investigate the Mechanisms by Which Prolonged Hyperglycemia Triggers HIMA in Retinal Endothelial Cells
Northwestern University
Retinal Oximetry and Structural Features Across Drusen Phenotypes in Non-Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Using Visible-Light OCT
University of Illinois Chicago
Multimodal Artificial Intelligence for Prognostic Stratification in Uveal Melanoma
UIC
A Novel Mitrochondria Targeted Therapy to Treat Ocular Herpes Infection and Associated Inflammation
Northwestern University
Perivascular Macrophages in Human Eyes
Loyola
Evaluating the Ocular Surface Microbiome of Patients with Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
Loyola University
Novel Metabolic Factors Defining Persistent Intracellular Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in the Cornea
Cook County H&H
Comparison of Visual Outcomes in Patients Implanted with Bilateral Clareon Monofocal IOLs Versus Bilateral enVista Aspire Monofocal IOL
Loyola
Biogeographic Differences in the Ocular Surface Microbiome and Immune Profile in Patients with Mild and Severe Ocular Rosacea
Northwestern University
Serotonin Receptor Targeted Nanotherapy for Retinal Ganglion Cell Neuroprotection Following Optic Nerve Injury
Loyola University
Janus Kinase Signaling in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: Therapeutic Potential of JAK Inhibitors
Loyola/Hines VA Hospital
Development of a Non-Invasive Sidestream Dark-Field Capillaroscope for Quantitative Conjunctival and Episcleral Microvascular Imaging in Glaucoma
University of Illinois Chicago
Neuron-Derived Signaling Mechanisms Driving Corneal Inflammation in Herpes Simplex Karatitis
UIC
A Novel Heparanase Inhibitory Potential of Doxorubicin for Multistage Inhibition of Ocular HSV
Loyola University
Assessing the Ocular Surface Microbiome and Immune Profile in Patients with Pterygium
Loyola University
Identification of Novel Substrates from Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Exo5 in Corneal Cells
University of Illinois Chicago
Apolipoprotein E and its Association with Optic Nerve Cupping, Cognitive Decline, and Radiologic Findings of Brain Aging
