September 2025
Doheny Looks Forward to the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2025 Meeting
One of the premier conferences in ophthalmology is next month: the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting will take place October 18-20 in Orlando, FL.
Doheny is excited to have a strong presence at AAO with presentations from clinician-scientists throughout different sessions, a joint exhibition booth with Stein Eye Institute (Booth #1965), and the much-anticipated Annual Alumni Reception hosted by both institutes. Doheny Professional Alumni Association (PAA) members can find more information and RSVP here.
AAO provides the opportunity for ophthalmologists and vision health professionals to join colleagues from around the world in learning more about the newest discoveries and advancements in ophthalmology. We hope to see many of our esteemed colleagues and PAA members at AAO this year. Watch for more exciting updates about Doheny at AAO 2025!
Dr. Emma Lessieur Receives Three-Year Federal Grant for Diabetic Retinopathy Research
Our newest faculty member, Emma Lessieur, MD, PhD, has been selected to receive a three-year federal grant to support her continued research on diabetic retinopathy. Her project is titled “Retina-derived extracellular vesicles in diabetic retinopathy: their potential role in pathogenesis and therapy.”
Continued research on diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults in the U.S., is critically needed. Currently, over 9.6M Americans are estimated to have diabetes, with over 1.84M people suffering from vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Based on estimates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) the number of diabetic patients is expected to rise to approximately 14.7M Americans by 2050.
Through her research, Dr. Lessieur aims to better understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to vision loss from this disease, as well as how to forge ahead in finding effective treatments by novel pathways.
As a nonprofit organization, federal funding like this is vital to continuing Doheny Eye Institute’s mission. It fuels the discoveries that lead to better treatments, improved patient outcomes, and – ultimately – the prevention of vision loss.
Doheny in the Community: Dr. Deborah Ferrington Visits Villa Gardens to Share Insights on Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Being a good neighbor is important to Doheny, and we are grateful for the opportunities to engage with our community. Last month, Deborah Ferrington, PhD, Doheny’s Chief Scientific Officer, visited Villa Gardens, a senior living community in Pasadena, to share the latest updates on the age-related macular degeneration (AMD) research taking place at Doheny.
Dr. Ferrington has spoken to the Villa Gardens community several times over the years, sharing insights and new developments in vision research at Doheny. Her most recent discussion on AMD is of particular interest to this audience since the risk of this disease increases significantly with age, particularly for people over the age of 60.
We look forward to continuing our community engagements and welcome every opportunity to connect, collaborate, and share insights and updates with our neighbors.