Maria Grant, M.D., professor and Eivor and Alston Callahan, M.D., Endowed Chair in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, was recently awarded the Research to Prevent Blindness David F. Weeks Award for Outstanding Vision Research.

The esteemed RPB David F. Weeks Award, named in honor of former RPB President and Chairman David F. Weeks, celebrates exceptional vision researchers whose work significantly advances the understanding and treatment of potentially blinding eye diseases.

Grant’s groundbreaking research focuses on utilizing human embryonic stem cells for vascular repair, a discovery that holds transformative potential for treating retinal diseases. Her pioneering efforts in targeted gene expression offer novel therapeutic possibilities for tissue repair throughout the body.

Grant expressed her gratefulness to Research to Prevent Blindness and to the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology for the award and said she is honored to contribute to their mission of advancing vision science.

“My laboratory and I are hopeful that our studies will reduce blindness in individuals with diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration,” Grant said. “We have been very fortunate to collaborate with dedicated researchers at UAB and the University of Florida to move forward these studies that emphasize the importance of understanding the impact of the gut on retinal outcomes.”

Grant was honored at the recent Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

“Dr. Grant’s groundbreaking research is emblematic of the innovation and excellence we strive for at UAB, making innovative advances in ophthalmic research, specifically the link between the gut microbiome and vision in individuals with diabetes,” said Brian Samuels, M.D., Ph.D., professor and EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Endowed Chair in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.” Her work not only advances our understanding of retinal diseases but also inspires our faculty, trainees and the broader scientific community.”