# Training Program in the Molecular Bases of Eye Disease

> **NIH NIH T32** · SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2020 · $97,710

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The Training Program in the Molecular Bases of Eye Diseases (MBED) is an ongoing postdoctoral
training program in the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School (HMS) that is aimed at
attracting and mentoring talented and motivated basic scientist trainees in the field of vision research. The
program includes 40 faculty members who represent a wide choice of research interests and expertise to the
trainees in the program. The mentors represent a diversity of relevant disciplines including development, ocular
immunology, vascular biology, neurobiology, regenerative medicine, gene therapy, growth factor biology, to
name a few. In addition, the research faculty are investigating a number of important ocular pathologies such
as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity, retinal degenerations, corneal
inflammation, wound healing, dry eye and corneal transplantation. This diversity provides a wide selection of
training opportunities.
 Since the initiation of the Program in 1997, the program has trained and mentored 78 trainees, many of
whom continue in the field of vision research and whose achievements are reflected in their publications and
presentation record; this includes four minorities in the past 10 years. Each year the Training Grant supports
four trainees for one year, and each trainee spends at least two years total in training. A majority of the faculty
has extensive research experience, strong publication records, and successful records of mentoring; some of
the faculty are more junior but all have demonstrated research excellence and a desire to mentor. Each faculty
member has an appointment in the department of Ophthalmology at HMS, and is affiliated with Schepens Eye
Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard University, Children's Hospital, The Joslin Diabetes
Research Center, or Brigham and Women's Hospital. All mentors are funded and most are supported by the
National Eye Institute (NEI).
 The goal of the MBED training program is to provide trainees with expertise in molecular approaches
and models as well as an understanding of and the ability to recognize the important clinical and basic
research questions facing ophthalmology. The commitment of the faculty to the success of their trainees is
evidenced by the quality and success of resulting trainees. The location of the affiliated institutions in Boston
provides an outstanding research environment with access to excellent facilities and resources. The program
encompasses all aspects of training required to produce an independent and successful vision researcher
including: full-time research, didactic courses and mentoring. These are all aimed at educating well qualified
trainees in knowledge and understanding of the basic and clinical principles that are key to identifying and
solving important ophthalmic problems, instruction in grant and manuscript writing and review as well as
presentation skills, and training...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9942441
- **Project number:** 5T32EY007145-22
- **Recipient organization:** SCHEPENS EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Patricia Ann D'Amore
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $97,710
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-02-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9942441

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9942441, Training Program in the Molecular Bases of Eye Disease (5T32EY007145-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9942441. Licensed CC0.

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