Funds Distribution Committee Supports New Projects

News // Sep 10 2021

The Funds Distribution Committee has announced a new round of projects selected to receive funding:

• Clinical Eye Research Unit’s purchase of an Optos Widefield Camera,  $50,000
• Ismail Zaitoun, PhD, and Nader Sheibani, PhD, for their research, Hypoxic-ischemic exposure induces damage in the mouse neuroretina, $7,000
• Paul Kaufman, MD, for his study, Schlemm’s Canal catheterization and substance delivery in live monkeys, $30,276
• Roomasa Channa, MD, for her project, Assessment of retinal neurodegeneration in patients with macular edema treated with dexamethasone intravitreal implant,  $3,823
• Cat Burkat, MD, FACS, for her pilot program to provide an ophthalmology experience for underrepresented middle and high school students, $1,309
• Stuart Tompson, PhD, for his supplemental pilot study, Spatial transcriptome profiling adult rat aqueous outflow tissues, $17,079

About the FDC

The FDC provides recommendations to the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Chair regarding distribution of awarded and garnered funds from the UW Foundation, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and outside donations provided to the department. Since its inception in 2016, FDC has awarded more than $844,000, including $300,000 in support from the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin. Funds support medical student and resident research projects, international training opportunities, and faculty research and equipment. There are also designated funds for research in age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cornea research.