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Faculty, trainees, researchers, and supporters from the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology and the Francis I. Proctor Foundation gathered in Denver this month for the 2026 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, the world’s leading international conference dedicated to vision research and eye science. The weeklong meeting welcomed 11,000 attendees from 72 countries, bringing together the global vision research community to share discoveries and advance the future of eye care.
Throughout the conference, UCSF researchers presented groundbreaking work spanning glaucoma, retinal disease, ocular inflammation, infectious eye disease, artificial intelligence, genetics, and translational vision science. More than 30 UCSF-affiliated faculty members, fellows, residents, postdoctoral scholars, medical students, graduate students, and research staff contributed presentations, posters, symposium talks, and invited lectures during the meeting, reflecting the depth and strength of UCSF’s vision research enterprise.
A major highlight of the meeting was the Mildred Weisenfeld Award Lecture delivered by Nisha Acharya, MD, MS, Elizabeth C. Proctor Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology, Epidemiology and Biostatistics at UCSF and Director of the Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation. Dr. Acharya received the prestigious Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology, which recognizes distinguished scholarly contributions to the clinical practice of ophthalmology.
During her award lecture, “From Clinic to Evidence: Advancing Research in Ocular Infection and Inflammation,” Dr. Acharya highlighted how patient-centered clinical observations can lead to evidence-based research that improves care for patients worldwide. Her presentation explored multicenter clinical trials and large-scale data studies focused on ocular inflammatory and infectious diseases, demonstrating how translational research can directly impact patient outcomes and clinical practice. She was introduced by Jacque Duncan, MD, Chair of the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology.
The ARVO Annual Meeting also provided an opportunity for the UCSF Ophthalmology and Proctor Foundation community to reconnect with alumni, collaborators, donors, and friends during a special reception hosted during the conference. Attendees gathered not only to celebrate the strength of the UCSF vision science community and its commitment to advancing discoveries that preserve and restore sight, but also to recognize Dr. Acharya’s extraordinary accomplishment in receiving the Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology.
Support from donors through the All May See Foundation helps make this work possible by advancing innovative research, supporting physician-scientist training, and accelerating breakthroughs that improve the lives of patients locally and around the world.
Photo slideshow from the ARVO 2026 UCSF Faculty and Alumni Reception below.