Vladimir Kefalov, PhD, and Tiffany Schmidt, PhD, Will Be Recognized for Their Significant Achievements in Vision Research
NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Lighthouse Guild, the leading not-for-profit vision and healthcare organization, will host the 2019 Alfred W. Bressler Vision Science Symposium and Pisart Seminar and present the 2019 Bressler Prize and Pisart Award at The University Club of New York, on Saturday, October 5, 2019, from 8:30am - 3pm. Dr. Vladimir Kefalov is the recipient of the 2019 Bressler Prize, and Dr. Tiffany Schmidt is the 2019 Pisart Award honoree. “These two outstanding researchers, chosen by an independent panel of judges who are leading physicians and scientists in the field of vision care and research, are being recognized for their significant contributions to vision science and research,” said Alan R. Morse, JD, PhD, President and CEO of Lighthouse Guild. “Improving the lives of people with vision loss is a core tenet of Lighthouse Guild,” Dr. Morse added. “By recognizing leading clinicians and researchers in vision science, we can strengthen our shared purpose and help advance tomorrow’s breakthroughs. We look forward to seeing their future work and collaborating with them to help people deal effectively with vision loss.” The theme of the Bressler Vision Science Symposium is “Understanding and Preserving Photoreceptor Function.” Dr. Kefalov’s lecture is entitled “Mechanisms Mediating the Function of Cone Photoreceptors and Daytime Vision.” The other Bressler Symposium lecturers and topics will include:
Dr. Schmidt’s presentation for the Pisart Seminar is entitled “Illuminating Visual Circuits.” Other Pisart Seminar lecturers and topics will include:
Bressler Prize Recipient His work is currently supported by five major NIH awards, including 3 RO1 awards, an U01 award, and a R24 award. He has also received numerous awards and grants from private foundations, including a Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness, and an Alcon Research Institute Young Investigator Grant. With a wide array of experimental methods and the insights they produced, Dr. Kefalov’s lab has published 65 papers over the last 10 years. His publications have appeared in some of the highest ranked journals, including Nature, Neuron, Nature Neuroscience, Current Biology, PNAS, eLife, Journal of Clinical Investigation, and Journal of Neuroscience. Every year since 2003, the Bressler Prize has recognized a mid-career vision clinician or scientist whose leadership, research and service have led to important advancements in the understanding of vision loss, treatment of eye disease, or the rehabilitation of people with vision loss. Pisart Award Recipient In the last few years, Dr. Schmidt has made a number of important discoveries about intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and their role in visual system function. She brings behavioral, electrophysiological, morphological, developmental, and genetic approaches to bear on a wide range of important questions concerning these cells. The Pisart Award recognizes an early-career vision clinician or scientist whose contributions have the potential to substantially influence vision care and/or vision science and has a proven record of accomplishment. About Lighthouse Guild View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lighthouse-guild-to-host-alfred-w-bressler-vision-science-symposium-pisart-seminar-300919061.html SOURCE Lighthouse Guild |