NEWS

UNC ophthalmology receives four-year grant to advance research in diseases causing blindness

By LESLIE H. LANG
School of Medicine

CHAPEL HILL -- The department of ophthalmology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine has received an unrestricted grant to advance research into the causes, treatment and prevention of diseases resulting in blindness.

The four-year, $220,000 research grant was awarded by Research to Prevent Blindness, or RPB, the world’s leading voluntary organization supporting eye research into diseases such as macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, corneal disease, retinitis pigmentosa, amblyopia, strabismus and uveitis.

"This is an important milestone in the research life of the department," said Dr. Travis A. Meredith, ophthalmology chair at UNC. "The award is in recognition of the entire department’s potential as a research institute."

In winning the competitive grant, Meredith’s department will receive $55,000 during each of the four years. The RPB award opens the door to compete for additional grants for individual investigators, including investigators beginning their research careers, "or for attracting individuals outside ophthalmology, such as geneticists, into the field," said Meredith.

The goals of UNC’s department of ophthalmology, which was founded in 1952, are to provide outstanding medical and surgical eye care, to promote greater understanding of eye conditions and diseases through education and to conduct research advancing ophthalmology for better patient care.

For more details on ophthalmology research at UNC, click on www.med.unc.edu/wrkunits/2depts/ophth/index.htm or contact Meredith at (919) 843-0297 or travis_meredith@med.unc.edu.

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Photo note: To download a photo of Meredith, click on www.unc.edu/news/pics/faculty/meredith_travis.jpg

School of Medicine contact: Les Lang, (919) 843-9687 or llang@med.unc.edu