All May See Foundation Awards $250,000 to Advance Vision Research

The All May See Foundation has approved more than $250,000 in new faculty and postdoctoral research awards to support innovative projects at the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology and the Francis I. Proctor Foundation. Approved at the Foundation’s October 2025 Board meeting, these awards fund bold new ideas to prevent blindness and restore sight.

How Blood Flow Affects Glaucoma
Postdoctoral Principal Investigator: Wenhao (Henk) Shang, PhD (Tyson Kim Lab)

Glaucoma and other optic-nerve diseases damage the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that send visual signals from the eye to the brain, affecting more than 80 million people worldwide.

Dr. Shang is investigating how a subset of RGCs, called neurotensin-expressing RGCs (Nts-RGCs), may regulate blood flow in the retina. These cells connect to nearby blood vessels early in development, but their role in maintaining circulation in adults remains unknown. If Nts-RGCs control how oxygen and nutrients reach retinal cells, their malfunction could contribute to glaucoma. Understanding this nerve–vessel link may lead to new therapies that preserve both nerve cells and blood flow.

Boosting Cellular Energy in Stargardt Disease
Postdoctoral Principal Investigator: Samir Ranjan Panda, MS, PhD (Aparna Lakkaraju Lab)

Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) damage the retina’s central vision area and affect more than 50 million people worldwide. Both are linked to problems with cellular metabolism—how cells produce and use energy—and the buildup of toxic waste in the eye.

Dr. Panda’s project focuses on Stargardt disease, caused by mutations in the ABCA4 gene, which prevents normal clearing of vitamin A byproducts. The resulting buildup harms the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a critical support layer for vision. His team aims to restore mitochondrial function to improve energy use and reduce waste, protecting cells that sustain healthy sight.

Communication Between Nerve Cells and Blood Vessels
Postdoctoral Principal Investigator: Yixiao Wang, PhD (Xin Duan Lab)

The retina depends on constant coordination between neurons and blood vessels. Dr. Wang’s work explores this neurovascular communication, focusing on a unique RGC type (Fam19a4/Nts-RGCs) that directly connects to blood vessels through a sensor protein called Piezo2.

When Piezo2 signaling is disrupted, blood vessels form abnormally, and neurons are damaged, similar to what happens in glaucoma. Understanding this interaction may lead to strategies that protect both circulation and neurons, slowing disease progression.

Shared Research Resource: Seahorse XF Flex Analyzer
Principal Investigator: Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD (on behalf of five faculty investigators)

All May See also provided partial funding for an Agilent Seahorse XF Flex Analyzer, a cutting-edge instrument that measures how living cells use energy. The first of its kind on UCSF’s Mission Bay Campus, the analyzer will accelerate discovery across multiple diseases:

• Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – Dr. Aparna Lakkaraju will measure energy use in retinal cells to identify treatments that restore mitochondrial health.
• Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) – Dr. Matilda Chan will examine how gene mutations affect corneal cell metabolism and test potential therapies to maintain transparency.
• Glaucoma – Dr. Xin Duan will study how high energy demands in retinal ganglion cells contribute to disease and identify new therapeutic targets.
• Retinal Signaling – Dr. Yvonne Ou will track real-time metabolic activity in retinal neurons to better understand how vision changes with disease or age.
• Diabetic Retinopathy – Dr. Jay Stewart will test how high glucose harms retinal blood vessel cells and whether metformin can protect them.

By supporting shared technology, the Foundation strengthens UCSF’s research capacity and fosters collaboration among scientists tackling diverse causes of blindness.

Investing in the Future of Vision Science

These awards reflect All May See Foundation’s commitment to funding early-stage, high-impact research that leads to new treatments for blinding eye diseases. By empowering scientists and equipping their labs, the Foundation helps accelerate discoveries that bring hope, and sight, to patients everywhere.

Together, we are advancing discoveries so that all may see.