Boston (Jan. 8, 2013) – Reza Dana, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc. of Mass. Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School, was awarded the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Senior Scientific Investigator Award in the amount of $150,000 to support research into the causes, treatment and prevention of blinding diseases.
The RPB Senior Scientific Investigator Award supports nationally recognized scientists conducting eye research at medical institutions in the United States. Since the award was established in 1987, Dr. Dana is one of 184 scientists at 59 institutions to receive this highly sought-after, flexible research grant.
"I am delighted to have received this support from RPB, which will aid us tremendously in our investigations of ocular surface inflammation in eyes deemed at high risk of corneal transplant rejection," said Dr. Dana. "With this support, we will be able to examine further how modulating inflammation and angiogenesis can promote transplant survival."
According to Joan W. Miller, M.D., FARVO, Chief and Chair of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (HMS), "Dr. Dana leads one of the largest and most advanced corneal and ocular inflammation programs in the world, and his investigations have greatly clarified the cellular and molecular mechanisms of ocular surface biology. This award is a reflection of his extensive expertise and substantial achievements thus far and an investment in future advancements in the field of corneal immunology. We are very grateful to RPB for their continuing support of our department's research endeavors and this very significant award."
In addition to his position as Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service at Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Dana is the HMS Department of Ophthalmology Vice Chair for Academic Programs, the Claes H. Dohlman Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Director of the HMS Cornea Center of Excellence, and the W. Clement Stone Scholar and Senior Scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute/Mass. Eye and Ear.
About Mass. Eye and Ear
Founded in 1824, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is an independent specialty hospital providing patient care for disorders of the eye, ear, nose, throat, head and neck. Mass. Eye and Ear is an international leader in Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology research and a teaching partner of Harvard Medical School. Under the direction of Mass. Eye and Ear's board of directors, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Schepens Eye Research Institute recently formed the world's largest and most robust private basic and clinical ophthalmology research enterprise. For more information, call 617-523-7900 or visit http://www.masseyeandear.org.
About RPB
RPB is the world's leading voluntary organization supporting eye research. Since it was founded in 1960, RPB has channeled hundreds of millions of dollars to medical institutions for research into the causes, treatment and prevention of binding eye diseases. For information on RPB, RPB-funded research, eye disorders and the RPB Grants Program, go to www.rpbusa.org.