# Vision Science Training Program

> **NIH NIH T32** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $186,013

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
The graduate program in vision science at The Ohio State University has a long track record of training
optometrists for careers as clinician scientists. The program has yielded many NIH funded investigators,
clinical trialists, and significant contributors to the field of vision science. More recent partnerships with
ophthalmology and neuroscience have only further strengthened the program which boasts a breadth of
research training opportunities from basic science, animal models, patient-based research, and multi-center
clinical trials. In recent years, the program has attracted a large number of female applicants, helping to
address the gender disparities that commonly exist in scientific training. This proposal seeks funding to provide
support for post-doctoral trainees who have completed an optometric doctorate and are now seeking a PhD.
The proposal seeks to support one trainee in the initial year and add an additional trainee in each of years 2 &
3 to reach a total number of three trainees for the third and subsequent years. The faculty appointed to this
award have strong records of NEI funding and provide a rich variety of research topics to include corneal
biomechanics and wound healing, retinal regeneration, refractive error, pediatric and binocular vision,
population vision health, and low vision rehabilitation. Trainees will gain education in the fundamentals of vision
science and the ethical conduct of research, complete mock grant proposals, write a review paper, run
research projects under the mentorship of their advisors, participate in public presentation of their research at
least annually, and be mentored in the publication of their scientific work. The Ohio State University is
committed to the advancement of individuals from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds and will seek to
prioritize the appointment of these applicants to the award. Engaging optometrists in rigorous scientific training
is critical to maintain the workforce needed to address the many vision disorders impacting both the aging
population and our youth. Ohio State University is one of the leading institutions in yielding clinician scientists
from the pool of US trained optometrists. The support of this award will further enhance the ability of the vision
science graduate program to produce excellent researchers by providing stipends to maximize the dedicated
research time of the trainees and focus their efforts solely on training.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10866617
- **Project number:** 5T32EY034824-02
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Heather Anne Anderson
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $186,013
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10866617

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10866617, Vision Science Training Program (5T32EY034824-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10866617. Licensed CC0.

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