The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences recently hosted the second annual Southeastern Vision Research Conference (SEVRC) to celebrate and share excellence in vision science.

The two-day seminar held at the Hilton Birmingham at UAB brought together vision scientists from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Emory University to foster collaboration among the groups, each with its own unique strengths. 

The keynote speaker was Constance “Connie” Cepko, Ph.D., Bullard Professor of Genetics and Neuroscience at Harvard Medical School, and a pioneering developmental and molecular neurobiologist. Her presentation was titled “Cell Fate Determination in the Retina and Strategies to Prolong Vision Using Gene Therapy.” 

Left to right: Alecia K. Gross, Ph.D., Connie Cepko, Ph.D., and Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D.This year’s conference had a record number of attendees with 195 registrants, 87 poster presentations, and 22 speakers. 

The conference was sponsored by the International Retinal Research Foundation, one of UAB Ophthalmology’s philanthropic partners who is committed to accelerating sustained, targeted research efforts into diseases affecting different parts of the human visual system. 

Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., and Alecia Gross Ph.D., UAB members of the program committee, agree: “collaboration and communication is the road forward on finding ways to preserve and restore good vision.” 

The next SEVRC will be held in 2020 at Emory University.