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The All May See Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2026 Peer-Reviewed Faculty Research Awards, providing $250,600 in seed funding, approved at our April board meeting, to support innovative research across the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology and Francis I. Proctor Foundation.
These awards are designed to accelerate early-stage, high-impact research that may not yet qualify for federal or large-scale funding, helping investigators generate critical preliminary data and position their work for future support. By investing in promising ideas at a pivotal stage, All May See continues to play a vital role in advancing discoveries that have the potential to transform patient care.
This year’s funded projects span a wide range of critical areas in vision science, including data-driven clinical research, myopia, macular degeneration, neural signaling, and advanced retinal disease modeling.
2026 Faculty Award Recipients
Advancing Data-Driven Clinical Research Through IRIS® Registry Implementation at UCSF
Investigators: Cathy Sun, MD; Nisha Acharya, MD; Jay Stewart, MD; Mike Deiner, PhD
This project will establish the infrastructure needed for UCSF researchers to leverage the IRIS® Registry, the largest national ophthalmology database, enabling large-scale studies on clinical outcomes, healthcare utilization, and disparities in eye care.
Mechanism-Based Therapeutic Strategy to Manage Ocular Axial Elongation/Myopia
Investigator: Sai Nair, PhD
This research focuses on identifying and targeting biological mechanisms that drive abnormal eye growth, with the goal of developing more effective therapies to slow or prevent myopia progression.
Identification of Plasma Biomarkers for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Stargardt Disease
Investigators: Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD; Jacque Duncan, MD; Jay Stewart, MD
This study aims to identify blood-based biomarkers that could improve disease monitoring and accelerate clinical trials for macular degeneration and Stargardt disease—two leading causes of vision loss.
The Development of Retinal Ganglion Cell-Type Specific Signaling in the Optic Nerve
Investigators: Felice Dunn, PhD; Annika Balraj, PhD; Jeanette Hyer, PhD
This project will explore how visual signals are transmitted from the eye to the brain, advancing our understanding of neural processing and informing future therapies for optic nerve damage.
Generating a Human Vascular-Immune Retinal Organoid Model
Investigator: Erik Ullian, PhD
This research will develop a next-generation human retinal model incorporating vascular and immune components, enabling more accurate study of diseases such as macular degeneration and glaucoma.
“These awards are a powerful example of how philanthropy fuels innovation,” said Deborah Chesky, President of the All May See Foundation. “By supporting researchers at the earliest stages, we help bring new ideas to life—ideas that can ultimately lead to breakthroughs in preventing blindness and restoring sight.”
The Peer-Reviewed Faculty Research Awards reflect All May See’s ongoing commitment to supporting the groundbreaking work of UCSF Ophthalmology and the Francis I. Proctor Foundation, ensuring that promising discoveries can move forward and make a meaningful impact on patients.