Newswise — Rockville, Md.—The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Foundation congratulates Elizabeth Rossin, MD, PhD — 2024 recipient of the Bert M. Glaser, MD Award for Innovative Research in Retina. The award recognizes an early-career investigator who has discovered a novel drug, technique, or the understanding of a mechanism of disease that impacts the understanding and/or treatment of a retinal disease or condition.
A vitreoretinal surgeon and assistant professor at Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Boston, Mass.), Rossin and her lab conduct genome-wide studies to understand genetic variation that contributes to central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR), a disease of the choroid that effects roughly one in 1,000 people. "Central serous chorioretinopathy is a poorly understood disease that onsets at age 40 and causes life-long loss of vision," explains Rossin. "Treatment options are limited, in part because we do not understand the disease."
Recipients of the Bert M. Glaser, MD Award must demonstrate their work has led to a development that will revolutionize retina care. "We are collecting thousands of patients with CSR and looking at their genetics to understand underlying pathways that contribute to this disease," says Rossin. "In doing so, we may be able to design new therapeutics." Rossin's lab is working also on algorithms to understand the effect of coding variation on protein structure, particularly in the context of inherited retinal disease.
Funded by the Glaser family through the ARVO Foundation, and named in memory of Bert M. Glaser, MD — a long-time retina researcher, surgeon, innovator and teacher whose life was cut short in 2017 after a brief illness — the award provides $10,000 in funding to the recipient.
"I am very thankful to receive this award," says Rossin. "The money will go to further the research on CSR, and the recognition will help with future grant and award applications as well as career advancement. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity."
For more information about the Bert M. Glaser, MD Award for Innovative Research in Retina, visit ARVO’s website.
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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include approximately 10,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.
Established in 2001, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research raises funds through partnerships, grants and sponsorships to support ARVO’s world-class education and career development resources for eye and vision researchers of all stages of career and education. Learn more at ARVOFoundation.org.
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