The Board of Directors of the Blind Children’s Center remains committed to scientific research seeking cures for juvenile blindness. For 25 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.
Our 2023 RFP is now available. All applications should be emailed with a cover letter as an attached PDF to sarah@blindchildrenscenter.org by April 15, 2023.
Click here to read an article from the American Academy of Ophthalmology detailing the results of last year’s grant recipients and their work on the “Association between Aphakia and Endophthalmits after Pediatric Cataract Surgery.”
The following is a full list of our current Medical Research Committee members and projects the Committee has chosen for funding.
Research Committee
Sherwin J. Isenberg, M.D.
Chairman & Professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology
Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA School of Medicine
Gerald Bowns, M.D.
Ophthalmologist & Clinical Assistant Professor
Pasadena Eye Medical Group & USC Keck School of Medicine
Diane Cullinane, M.D.
Executive Director
Professional Child Development Associates
Diane L. Fazzi, Ph.D.
Professor & Division Chair of Special Education and Counseling
California State University, Los Angeles
Robert Gordon, O.D.
Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs & Professor
College of Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences
Michael B. Gorin, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor Division Chief
Retinal Disorders and Ophthalmic Genetics Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine
Samuel Masket, M.D.
Clinical Professor
Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA & founding partner of Advanced Vision Care
Research Projects
2021/2022
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
2021/2020
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)
2019/2020
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
None approved
2017/2018
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
2016/2017
Zhongjie Fu, PhD. $25,000
Boston Children’s Hospital
FGF21 Protects Against Hyperglycemia Associated ROP through Modulating Energy Metabolism
2015/2016
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
2014/2015
Carolyn Drews-Botsch, Ph.D., MPH $20,000
Emory University
Pilot Study of Reading Speed and Comprehension in Children Treated for Unilateral Congenital Cataracts
2013/2014
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
None approved
2011/2012
Jing Chen, Ph.D. $20,000
Children’s Hospital Boston
Micro RNA Control of Retinal Vascular & Neuronal Degeneration in ROP
2010/2011
Ms. Tritia Woo, M.A., Doctorate Student $8,000
USC
Visions: Visual Instructional Strategies in Occupational Therapy for Young Children
2009/2010
Dr. Brian T. Brooks $16,850
National Eye Institute
A Trial of Nitisinone (NTBC) As A Treatment for Oculocutaneous Albinism, Type 1
2008/2009
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
2007/2008
Professor Amy Needham $15,000
Duke University, Office of Research Support
Engaging Blind Infants in Objects
2006/2007
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
2005/2006
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
2004/2005
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
2003/2004
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
2002/2003
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
2001/2002
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
No proposals received, no project sponsored
1999/2000
Anne B. Fulton, M.D. $12,500
Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
Visual Acuity in Children with CVI
1998/1999
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
1997/1998
Gerhard W. Cibis, M.D. $10,000
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Neural Network Analysis of Video Vision Development Assessment
1996/1997
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
1995/1996
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