The University of Alabama at Birmingham is pleased to host the 5th biannual Southeastern Vision Research Conference, Nov. 9–10, 2026, bringing together vision scientists from Emory University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
This year’s program will feature talks and poster sessions spanning New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), big data, imaging, artificial intelligence, molecular vision science, ocular disease, and other emerging areas shaping the future of our field.
The meeting is presented in partnership with the UAB Heersink School of Medicine, UAB School of Optometry and the UAB Vision Science Research Center and is sponsored by the International Retinal Research Foundation, Inc.
Speakers
Keynote Lecture Team
Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., FARVO
Professor Emerita
Director, AMD Pathology Lab
UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., FARVO
Professor
Nathan E. Miles Endowed Chair of Ophthalmology
Director, Clinical Research Unit
UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Featured Advocate
Dan Ignaszewski
Executive Director, Alliance for Vision Research
Accommodations
Hilton Birmingham Downtown at UAB
808 20th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35205
*must check out by 1:30 p.m.
Residence Inn by Marriott Birmingham Downtown at UAB
821 20th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35205
*must check out by 11:00 a.m., but cars can remain parked until 1:30 p.m.
Program Agenda
Monday, November 9
12:00 p.m.
Registration and Refreshments
Lobby
1:00 p.m.
Opening Remarks
Rafael Grytz, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Conference Room 102
1:15 p.m.
Speaker Session I: Basic and Translational Vision Research
Session Chairs: Sujoy Bhattacharya, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University; Yuchen Wang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Conference Room 102
Localization and function of glycogen in the mouse retina
Daniel Hass, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Emory University
Sodium-Driven Müller Glial Dysfunction as a Mechanism of Hypertensive Retinopathy
Ashley L. Mutchler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Meharry Medical College
Neural Response Static Nonlinearities in Macaque RGCs and LGN Neurons Recorded in vivo
Emmanuel Addai, O.D., The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Farnesoid X Receptor in Endothelial Function and Angiogenesis in Choroidal Neovascularization
Chanel Harris, Meharry Medical College
Mechanisms underlying the novel murine model of naturally occurring refractive error (NORE)
Melissa Bentley-Ford, Ph.D., Emory University
2:45 p.m.
Poster Session I
Lobby
3:45 p.m.
Speaker Session II: Clinical Research
Session Chairs: Andrew Feola, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Emory University; Kevin Schey, Ph.D., Professor, Vanderbilt University
Conference Room 102
Leveraging Big Data for Vision Research-An Overview of the Sight Outcomes Research Collaborative (SOURCE) Consortium
Joshua D. Stein, M.D., M.S., Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Leveraging the NEI for The Evidence in Pediatric Eye Care: An Overview of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group: 1997-2027
Katherine Weise, O.D., MBA, FAAO, Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Testosterone Dysregulation Among Males is Associated with Ocular and Neurological Degeneration: A Large US Population Analysis
Jacqueline Shaia, Ph.D., M.S., Clinical Scientist Assistant, Vanderbilt University
Prevalence of Macular Neovascularization Among Older Adults in Comprehensive Ophthalmology Care, revealed by OCT Angiography: ALSTAR2 Baseline
Jiaxin Pu, Ph.D., The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Explainable AI to Identify Fast Glaucoma Progressors Using Atlas-Derived Features and Acute IOP-Induced Strain
Michaël Girard, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Emory University
5:15 p.m.
Poster Session II
Lobby
6:00 p.m.
Dinner and Drinks
ALGEN Rooftop Terrace
Tuesday, November 10
7:30 a.m.
Breakfast
Lobby
8:00 a.m.
Talk and Group Discussion
Conference Room 102
The Future of Vision Research: Federal Funding, Policy, and Regulatory Changes
Dan Ignaszewski, Executive Director, Alliance for Vision Research
Session Chair: Tonia Rex, Ph.D., Vice Chair and Professor, Vanderbilt University
Panel Discussion: The Future of Vision Research
Panelists: Ross Ethier, Ph.D., Professor, Emory University; Maria Grant, M.D., Professor, UAB; Dan Ignaszewski, Executive Director, Alliance for Vision Research; Kelly Nichols, O.D., Ph.D., MPH, Dean, UAB; Tonia Rex, Ph.D., Vice Chair and Professor, Vanderbilt; Brian C. Samuels, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair, UAB
9:00 a.m.
Keynote Lecture Presentation
Keynote chairs: Rafael Grytz, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Machelle Pardue, Ph.D., Vice Chair and Professor, Emory University
Conference Room 102
Rod-mediated dark adaptation: an early warning system in age-related macular degeneration
Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, and Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., Professor The University of Alabama at Birmingham
What Does Delayed Dark Adaptation in AMD Mean for Everyday Life?
Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Validated imaging biomarkers for AMD and new perspectives on outer retinal cell biology
Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
10:15 a.m.
Poster Session III
Lobby
11:15 a.m.
Speaker Session III: New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)
Session Chairs: Gianfranco Bianco, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Sayantan Datta, M.Sc., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Emory University
Conference Room 102
High-Resolution DMD Bioprinting of the Human Inner Blood-Retinal Barrier for Modeling Early Diabetic Retinopathy
Brian O’Grady, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University
Disrupted Cholesterol Homeostasis Links Optic Nerve and CNS Pathology in MS
Oliver Gramlich, Ph.D., Associate Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Retinal Pericyte-binding IgG is Heightened in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy during Type 2 Diabetes
Kiel Telesford, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University
Membrane–cytoskeleton coupling by ezrin modulates mechanotransduction and transcellular pore formation in Schlemm’s canal cells
Haiyan Li, Ph.D., Emory University
Three-Dimensional Mapping of the Myelin Transition Zone in Healthy and Glaucomatous Optic Nerves
Thanadet Chuangsuwanich, Ph.D., Scientist, Emory University
12:45 p.m.
Best Poster Prize and Closing Remarks
Rafael Grytz, Ph.D., Professor; Oliver Gramlich, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Timothy Gawne, Ph.D., Professor, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Conference Room 102
Special Thanks
International Retinal Research Foundation, Inc.
Questions?
Reach out to sevrc2026@uab.edu.