Medical Research

Our Board of Directors remains committed to scientific research seeking cures for juvenile blindness. For 30 years our Medical Research Committee has made grants to worthy scientists from dozens of esteemed universities in a quest to prevent various forms of visual impairment in young people.

This prestigious award is dedicated to Lisa D. Hansen, a longtime Board Member, donor, and dear friend to the Blind Children’s Center community. Lisa was a strong advocate for the importance of a Research Grant program, and it is our privilege to name the annual program in her honor.

Past research supported by the Center has included eye tracking and Teller acuity for visual assessment in children with cortical visual impairment; characterization of the retinoblastoma gene; laboratory and clinical evaluation of optic nerve hypoplasia; and neonatal conjunctival oxygen tension monitoring. It is expected that successful applicants will utilize the seed funding as a stepping-stone to additional research and funding by other organizations. Publication of the results is expected. This research grant is available only to institutions and individuals in the United States.

The current grant cycle is closed. Check back in late 2026 for our next RFP.

Proposals will be due by April 1, 2027. Applications will be reviewed by the BCC Research Committee, with funding decisions made by May 31, 2027. The starting point for awarded grant(s) will be July 1, 2027.

The following is a full list of our current Medical Research Committee members and projects the Committee has chosen for funding.

Research Committee

Melinda Chang, M.D.
Committee Chairman
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute

Nicholas Casias, Ed.D., COMS
Assistant Professor, Special Education and Counseling
California State University, Los Angeles

Melissa Contreras, O.D., M.P.H.
Optometrist, Associate Vice President
for the Center for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility
Marshall B. Ketchum University

Diane Cullinane, M.D.
Executive Director
Professional Child Development Associates

Michael B. Gorin, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Division Chief
Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics, Department of Ophthalmology
Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine

Samuel Masket, M.D.
Clinical Professor
Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine
& Founding Partner of Advanced Vision Care

Lotfi B. Merabet, O.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School Massachusetts Eye & Ear

Research Projects

2026/2027

Alina Dumitrescu M.D. & Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D., $25,000    
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
AI-Assisted Eye-Movement Analysis to Improve Diagnosis & Prognosis of Nystagmus in Children

2025/2026

Rachel Pulverman, Ph. D., $25,000    
Wesley College of Science & Behavioral Sciences
Delaware State University
Touch, Listen and Learn: Developing a New Method for Testing Blind Infants’ Cognitive Development

2024/2025

Seongjin Seo, Ph. D., $25,000    
Institute for Vision Research
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Mutation-independent, Generic Gene Therapy Vectors to Treat CEP290-LCA

2022/2023

Sarah Hilkbert Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., $25,000    
Lindsay Y. Chun, M.D.
Dmitra Skondra, M.D., Ph.D. 
Chuanhuan Liao, M.S.
University of Chicago Medical Center
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Association between Aphakia and Endophthalmits after Pediatric Cataract Surgery

2021/2022

Melinda Chang, M.D., $25,000
The Vision Center, Children’s Hospital LA
USC Roski Eye Insitute
Eye Tracking & Teller acuity for visual assessment in Children with CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment)

2020/2021

Xi Chen, M.D., Ph.D., $24,878
Duke Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University
Blood Retinal Barrier in Retinopathy of Prematurity

2018/2019

Brenda L. Bohnsack, M.D., Ph.D., $25,000
Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Understanding the Molecular Basis of Congenital Eye Defects Associated with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

2017/2018

Zhongjie Fu, PhD. $25,000
Boston Children’s Hospital
FGF21 Protects Against Hyperglycemia Associated ROP through Modulating Energy Metabolism

2016/2017

R.V. Paul Chan, M.D. $24,600
Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine
Characterization of Ocular Malformations in Infants with Possible Exposure to Zika Virus

2015/2016

Carolyn Drews-Botsch, Ph.D., MPH $20,000
Emory University
Pilot Study of Reading Speed and Comprehension in Children Treated for Unilateral Congenital Cataracts

2014/2015

Fatema Ghasia, M.D. $20,000*
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of
Case Western Reserve University
Fixational Eye Movements (microsaccades) in Amblyopia
* Funds donated by Lisa Hansen, Norris Foundation

2012/2013

Jing Chen, Ph.D. $20,000
Children’s Hospital Boston
Micro RNA Control of Retinal Vascular & Neuronal Degeneration in ROP

2011/2012

Ms. Tritia Woo, M.A., Doctorate Student $8,000
USC
Visions: Visual Instructional Strategies in Occupational Therapy for Young Children

2010/2011

Dr. Brian T. Brooks $16,850
National Eye Institute
A Trial of Nitisinone (NTBC) As A Treatment for Oculocutaneous Albinism, Type 1

2009/2010

Thomas C. Lee, M.D. $20,000
Improving Retinal Stem Cell Proliferation

Dr. Eibschitz $6,250
Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University
ROP Pre-Pathology Diagnosis and Intervention

2008/2009

Professor Amy Needham $15,000
Duke University, Office of Research Support
Engaging Blind Infants in Objects

2007/2008

Dr. Noa Ela-Dalmon $15,000
Jules Stein Eye Institute
Optic Nerve Blood Flow and Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Patients with Unilateral Amblyopia

2006/2007

Maya Eibschitz, M.D. $12,500
W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology
University of Michigan Medical School
Improving Trabeculectomy Outcome in Children Using Human Amniotic Membrane

2005/2006

Teresa C. Chen, M.D. $12,500
Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Department of Ophthalmology
Risk Factors for Aphakic Glaucoma After Congenital Cataract Surgery

2004/2005

Deborah Vanderveen, M.D. $12,500
Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Retinal Vasculature in Retinopathy of Prematurity:
A Study of the Tortuosity Index in Pre-term Infants

2003/2004

Mohamed A.W. Hussein, M.D. $12,500
David K. Coats, M.D.
Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital,
Texas Medical Center Location, Clinical Care Center
Exploring the Causes of High Myopia Following Peripheral Retinal Ablation for ROP

2002/2003

Terri L. Young, M.D. $10,000
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Screening of Norrie Disease Gene Mutations in ROP

Elias Traboulsi, M.D. $10,000
Daniel Chung
Cole Eye Institute, The Cleveland Clinic
Identification of a New Gene for Autosomal Dominant Congenital Posterior Polar Cataracts on Chromosome 10Q

2000/2001

Anne B. Fulton, M.D. $12,500
Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Visual Acuity in Children with CVI

1999/2000

Eric A. Pierce, M.D., Ph.D. $10,000
Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in ROP

Steven Brooks, M.D. $11,600
Medical College of Georgia Research Institute
Role of Nitric Oxide & Oxidative Stress in ROP

1998/1999

Gerhard W. Cibis, M.D. $10,000
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Neural Network Analysis of Video Vision Development Assessment

1997/1998

Irene Ludwig, M.D. $12,000
Louisiana State University Medical Center
Long Term Results of Accommodative Esotropia Treatment

Robert Reinecke, M.D. $4,000
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Nystagus & Head Movements in Children with ONH

1996/1997

Dannak L. Murphy $10,000
Blind Babies Foundation
Pediatric Visual Diagnosis Fact Sheet

Mark Borchert, M.D. $9,654
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Prenatal & Clinical Risk Factors of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia