Glaucoma Fast Track 2025

BrightFocus Foundation’s Glaucoma Fast Track workshop helps speed progress toward a cure for glaucoma by investing in promising young scientists in the field of vision research. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or other early-stage scientists focused on glaucoma research, or those who want to enter the field, took advantage of this unique opportunity to accelerate their path towards becoming an expert in this exciting field by:

• immersing themselves in the background knowledge and latest discoveries in glaucoma research,
• connecting with preeminent glaucoma experts and fellow early-stage researchers based in the U.S. and around the world, and

• engaging in scientific debates.

• Diane Bovenkamp, PhD
• Abbot F. Clark, PhD
• Rebecca Sappington, PhD
• Colleen McDowell, PhD

• Mike Anderson, PhD
  Professor
  Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Carver College of Medicine
  Iowa Glaucoma Center, Institute for Vision Research
  University of Iowa
• Diane Bovenkamp, PhD
  Vice President, Scientific Affairs, BrightFocus Foundation
• Kevin Chan, PhD
  Assistant Professor
  New York University Grossman School of Medicine
• Abe Clark, PhD
  Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
  Executive Director and FARVOProfessor, North Texas Eye Research Institute
  Executive Director and Regents Professor, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center
• Luca Della Santina, PhD
  Assistant Professor at University of Houston – College of Optometry
• Michael Elliott, PhD
  Gregory L. Skuta, MD Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology
  Presbyterian Health Foundation Presidential Professor
  Professor of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine
  Professor of Biochemistry & Physiology, College of Medicine
  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  Dean A. McGee Eye Institute
• Brad Fortune, OD, PhD
  Senior Scientist
  Van Buskirk Chair for Ophthalmic Research
  Discoveries in Sight Research Laboratories
  Devers Eye Institute, Legacy Research Institute
• Cecilia Lee, MD
  Professor of Ophthalmology
  Klorfine Family Endowed Chair
  University of Washington
• Paloma Liton, PhD
  Full Professor, Duke University
• Yutao Liu, PhD
  Professor, Graduate Program Director
  Cellular Biology & Anatomy
  Co-Director, James & Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute
  Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
• Colleen McDowell, PhD
  Associate Professor
  Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
  University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Gillian McLellan, PhD
  Professor and Chair, Department of Surgical Sciences
  Tim and Nancy Speaker Chair in Canine Health
  School of Veterinary Medicine
  Professor of Comparative Ophthalmology,
  Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences,
  School of Medicine and Public Health
  University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Jason Meyer, PhD
  A. Donald Merritt Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics
  Director, SNRI Stem Cell Research Group
  Director, NCRAD iPS Cell Laboratory
• Dr. and Mrs. Stacy R. Mettier Jr.
  Professor of Ophthalmology
  Vice Chair for Postgraduate Education
  Department of Ophthalmology
  University of California, San Francisco
• Rob Nickells, PhD
  Professor and F. A. Davis Chair
  Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
  University of Wisconsin – Madison
• Yvonne Ou, MD
  Dr. and Mrs. Stacy R. Mettier Jr. Professor of Ophthalmology
  Vice Chair for Postgraduate Education
  Department of Ophthalmology
  University of California, San Francisco
• Ahmara Ross, MD, PhD
  Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University of Pennsylvania; Scheie Eye Institute
• Rebecca Sappington, PhD
  Associate Professor
  Co-Director, Translational Eye and Vision Research Center
  Director, Ocular Biorepository Core Resource
  Chair, Faculty Development Council
  Dept. Biochemistry
• Tasneem Sharma, PhD
  Vice Chair of Strategic Engagement
  Assistant Professor
  Department of Ophthalmology
  Indiana University School of Medicine
• Cynthia Steele, PhD
  Scientific Consultant
• Janey Wiggs, MD, PhD
  Paul Austin Chandler Professor of Ophthalmology
  Vice Chair for Clinical Research
  Co-director Ocular Genomics Institute
  Harvard Medical School

Videos of past Glaucoma Fast Track workshop presentations are available for the following years:

• • 2022
  • 2019
  • 2017