Spring 2013 - ARVO

Leaders and volunteersGiving members what they needBy Mark Petrash, PhD, FARVOMany of you may be aware that ARVOis in the midst of developing a strategicplan for the organization for 2013 andbeyond. We have put together a StrategicPlanning Group that includes leadingmembers from around the world and representsdifferent member types and scientificsections.To start the planning, the committeesought input from a variety of stakeholdersto help us identify strengths, weaknesses,opportunities and threats to ARVO and tothe vision research enterprise.Regular MembersImportance of Aspects of ARVO Membership To Scientific or Professional LifeWe worked with The KushnerCompanies (TKC), who served as facilitatorsto conduct interviews with leaders frompeer organizations, domestic and internationalinstitutions, and ARVO memberswho could speak from many perspectives:Members-in-Training (MITs), women scientists,leaders from ARVO’s internationalchapter affiliates, industry representativesand section leaders from our regular membership.TKC used these stakeholder insights,together with input from staff and membersof the ARVO Board of Trustees, to developan electronic survey that went out to the80%70%60%50%40%30%Not ImportantNeutralSomewhat ImportantVery ImportantThe committee sought inputfrom a variety of stakeholdersto help us identify strengths,weaknesses, opportunitiesand threats to ARVO and tothe vision research enterprise.20%10%0%Career advancement Representation and advocacy Professionalnetworking/collaborationMIT MembersImportance of Aspects of ARVO membership to Scientific or Professional Life80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%Career advancement Representation and advocacy Professional networking,collaborationNot ImportantNeutralSomewhat ImportantVery Importantmembership in July last year. About 1,600members took part, corresponding to 15%of our regular members and 8% of MITs.I would like to focus on two majorthemes that emerged from this process,as they provided critical guidance to theStrategic Planning Group. How doesbelonging to ARVO impact the professionaland training lives of our members?To more effectively deliver value to ourmembers, we wanted to know how ARVOcould have a positive influence on theirprofessional lives.■■■■Facilitating advancement in members’scientific or professional life was recognizedas one of the most importantaspects of ARVO membership.To our MITs, access to professionalnetworking/collaboration and careeradvancement stood out as the mostimportant benefit of ARVO membership.4 ARVONews Spring 2013

Leaders and volunteersRegular MembersImportance of 2008-2013 Strategic Plan GoalsARVO will be organizationally and financiallystrong to fulfill its purpose and achieve its visionand goals.Not ImportantNeutralVision scientists will choose ARVO as their primaryresearch membership organization.SomewhatImportantVery ImportantYoung investigators will be an important part ofthe vitality of ARVO.ARVO will be the primary advocate for visionresearch worldwide.ARVO will demonstrate by its programs andactions that it is the leading international forumfor vision research.0% 20% 40% 60% 80%■■Representation and advocacy are considered key benefitsof membership.How can ARVO reflect the values and meet the needsof its members?■■Insights into these questions were gleaned from members’responses about how they would rank the importanceof ARVO’s goals from the current Strategic Plan (2008-2012).■■■■■■■■Members recognize young investigators as being vital tothe organization.Members value the role of ARVO as their primaryresearch organization and the world’s leading forum forvision research.Members look to ARVO to lead in advocacy for visionresearch worldwide.Members want an organization that is well-run andefficient.I think you will see how member input to the surveyhelped to shape the goals of our new plan, which is in draftform at arvo.org/draft_strategic_plan. Together, we areworking to make ARVO even stronger in supporting visionresearch around the world. nCOLLABORATION, ADVOCACY,RESEARCH, EDUCATIONEnvision Conference 2013September 19-21 | Hyatt Regency MinneapolisShare your knowledge. Submit an abstract or session proposal.Learn from leaders in the field of low visionrehabilitation and research.Collaborate with vision researchers from around the world.C O N F E R E N C EA multi-disciplinar y low visionrehabilitation & research conferenceSubmit program abstracts and register online.Abstracts Submission Deadline: March 22, 2013www.envisionconference.orgRegister by July 5and save10 %arvo.org 5

Leaders and volunteers2013 ARVOTrusteecandidatesThese members have been nominatedto stand in the 2013 Trustee election:Anatomy andPhysiology (AP) SectionSarah E. Coupland,MBBS, PhD, FARVORoyal LiverpoolUniversity Hospital/University of LiverpoolLiverpool, UKHans E. Grossniklaus,MD, MBA, FARVOEmory University Schoolof MedicineAtlanta, Ga.Glaucoma (GL) SectionClaude Burgoyne, MD,FARVODevers Eye InstitutePortland, Ore.Carlo Traverso, MD,FARVOUniversity of GenovaGenova, ItalyLearn more about allthe 2013 Trustee candidates atarvo.org/elections. nWhat you’ve always wanted to know aboutARVO elections**but were afraid to askVoting is an important privilege for regular, sustaining and life members of ARVO. Itsets the course both for how the organization is governed as well as for the shape ofthe scientific program of the Annual Meeting.But the elections can seem confusing! What are they all about? And who gets tovote for whom? Here’s a guide to the process and the 2013 ballot.Annual Meeting Program CommitteeThis committee reviews all the abstracts submitted for the Annual Meeting and determinesthe final scheduling of posters and papers as well as provides important feedbackfor other parts of the program.■■■■Each section or cross-sectional group has three representatives, except for the AP, COand RE sections, which have six members each because of their size. Most AMPCmembers serve a three-year term; VI Section and NT Cross-sectional Group membersserve a four-year term.Every spring, each section and cross-sectional group elects a new representative toserve on the AMPC — although the AP, CO and RE sections each elect two members.Board of TrusteesScientific sections elect representatives to the Board of Trustees every five years on astaggered basis (this ensures continuity on the Board). Trustee elections follow a twoyearcycle:■■■■Year 1: Candidate ElectionsEligible section members narrow down their nominees for section Trustee to twocandidates. These candidates will run in the Trustee elections the following year.In 2013, the IM, RC and VI sections will choose two candidates each.Year 2: Trustee ElectionsEligible section members vote to select one of the two candidates as their section Trustee.In 2013, the AP and GL sections will elect their new Trustees.Who can vote?Remember, to be eligible to vote for or nominate a candidate, you must be a regular, sustainingor life member with your 2013 ARVO membership fees and dues paid no later than Feb.1, 2013. More information: arvo.org/elections. nGet involved and nominate todayIM, RC and VI Trustee nominationsand Annual Meeting ProgramCommittee (AMPC) nominations areopen until February 11. If you are aregular, sustaining or life member andwould like to submit an online nomination,visit arvo.org/elections.Don’t be shy! If you feel you are thebest person for the job, there is also anoption to self-nominate.Please note that the same rulesapply to nominations as they do toelections. In order to qualify, duesmust be paid before Feb. 1, 2013. Also,you can only nominate within yoursection and cross-sectional groups. Foradditional information and answers tofrequently asked questions, please visitarvo.org/electionFAQs. n6 ARVONews Spring 2013

Leaders and volunteersHighlights from the fall2012 Board meetingThis past November, the Board of Trustees met in Chicagoafter the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.As ARVO’s incoming executive director (starting January2013), Sally Atherton delivered her Executive Director Update— a new item for the board meeting agenda.Trustees discussed corporate involvement in the ARVOAnnual Meeting, a new cross-sectional group proposal, theCogan awards and collaboration request guidelines.You may have read in the highlights from the 2011 fall meetingthat work for the new strategic plan began in spring 2012.Mark Petrash, PhD, who is leading the planning process, delivereda detailed round-up from the Strategic Planning Taskforce’srecent retreat. See his article on page 3.Other presentations included an update from staff on the2013 Annual Meeting and an update from President-Elect,Justine Smith on the October 2012 European Association forVision and Eye Research (EVER) meeting. nCall for volunteersVolunteers play a key role in planningARVO’s future. If you have expertiseand enthusiasm to share, ARVO urges youto apply to volunteer to serve on an ARVOcommittee. ARVO committees look forcontributions from members-in-training aswell as experienced members.Committee members serve a three-yearterm and receive points toward ARVOFellows eligibility. Many members findthat committee service provides them withinvaluable experience in leadership andteamwork.ARVO will be accepting applications toserve on an ARVO committee beginningin March 2013. Look for a notice in theInsight e-newsletter or checkarvo.org/committees. nPost-Arvo Optometric Cruise Seminar toALASKA!******The Last Frontier******2013 Prevent Blindness AmericaInvestigator AwardDeadline: March 27, 2013Apply now for the 2013 Prevent Blindness AmericaInvestigator Award, which provides funding for researchinvestigating public health related to eye health and safety.Applications will be accepted in the following priority areasin adult vision, children’s vision or eye injury:l Burden/economic aspects of eye disease/vision losson societyl Best practices to integrate vision screening/follow upcare to system care accessl Vision program effectiveness/evaluationAll research grants need to promote the core mission ofPrevent Blindness America — preventing blindness andpreserving sight. Basic laboratory science research will notbe supported under this program.Grants are for a one-year period, up to $30,000, reviewedby a panel of scientists in coordination with ARVO andcommence on July 1, 2013.For more information, visit preventblindness.org/investigator-awards. Contact Nita Patel, PBA’s directorof public health, at +1.312.363.6019 or npatel@preventblindness.org with any questions.Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay Nat’l Park, Ketchikan,Victoria, Seattle. On board the luxurious: Star Princess ® .Lv Seattle Sat., May 11; return Seattle Sat., May 18From $849pp cruise fare /10 hours CE $400www.princess.com www.travelalaska.comAEA Optometric Cruise Seminars 2013l Eastern Caribbean, Feb. 17- 24, 7 days, RubyPrincess ® . Ft. Lauderdale, Princess Cays, St. Maarten,St. Thomas, Grand Turk, Ft. Lauderdale. From $649perperson.l Alaska – Voyage of the Glaciers, July 3 – 10, 7 days,Coral Princess ® . Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway,Glacier Bay, College Fjord, Anchorage (Whittier). From$1149 per person, over 4th of July holiday.l The Romantic Danube River Cruise, July 11 – 18, 7days, AMA Waterways AmaDolce ® . Vilshofen, Passau,Linz, Melk/Krems, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest. From$2,799pp cruise only. Optional 3 day pre-cruise stay inPrague $690 per person. www.amawaterways.coml Grand Mediterranean, July 17 – 29, 12 days, RoyalPrincess ® . Barcelona, Toulon (Provence), Florence/Pisa,Rome (Civitavecchia), Naples (Capri/Pompei), Mykonos,Istanbul, Kusadasi (Ephesus), Athens, Venice. From$2,299 per person.AEA Cruises: Dr. Mark Rosanova, PresidentSponsored by the Illinois Optometric Association andAdvanced Eyecare AssociatesVisit us at www.OptometricCruiseSeminars.com,email aeacruises@aol.com, call (888) 638-6009arvo.org 7

Leaders and volunteersDear Members-in-Training ...AntonKolomeyer,MD, PhDNew JerseyMedical SchoolThis is a particularly exciting time to be amember-in-training (MIT). For the firsttime in decades, the ARVO Annual Meetingwill be held outside of Florida. Seattle is abustling, “young,” energetic city with extensivepublic transportation, not to mention hundredsof available rooms for less than $100/day. Forthese and myriad other reasons, the ARVO2013 Annual Meeting will surely be quitememorable.One of the most profound experiences thusfar of my two-year term as the MIT memberof the Board of Trustees has been participating in a StrategicPlanning Meeting held in Denver, Colo., in August 2012. Thisevent wholeheartedly reaffirmed my belief that ARVO is ingreat hands and will continue to thrive for years to come.The general purpose for this collective “think tank” was toexamine the growth and development of ARVO as an organizationand to discuss what it should aim to achieve in the nearfuture. After two days of intense deliberations, I began to understandand truly appreciate the depth of planning required foreach of ARVO’s missions and events. Planning strategies basedon economic and scientific trends, identifying revenue streamsand balancing the budget, conducting site visits to secure contractswith host cities and hotels, and hosting special interestprograms (i.e., specific to MITs, international members, women)are, although time-consuming, paramount to ARVO’s success.The MIT Board of Trustees position is an incredible opportunityfor a medical/graduate student, postdoc or resident.Attending meetings, participating in planning sessions, interactingwith leaders in multiple subspecialties, and getting a “behindthe scenes” look at the operations of this impressive organizationare just some of the “perks” of the job.For these and many other reasons, I encourage all MITs whoare truly committed to this organization to apply for the Boardof Trustees position in a few months’ time. I certainly plan to usewhat I have learned in my pursuit of an academic career aftercompleting ophthalmology residency training at the Universityof Pittsburgh Medical Center.With warm regards,Anton M. Kolomeyer, MD, PhD nWhy volunteer?Pedram Hamrah,MDHarvardMedical School/Massachusetts Earand Eye InfirmaryMary ElizabethHartnett, MDUniversity of UtahPedram Hamrah, MD■■Members-in-Training Committee■■Professional Development andEducation CommitteeAs a resident of ophthalmology, Iwanted to become more involved inARVO in terms of planning as well aseducation. I wanted to take the knowledgefrom Members-In-Training andbring it to the Professional Developmentand Education Committee. I wantedto contribute to some of the needs onthat committee and try to see if I couldhelp the educational components be tailored in a way thatwould benefit the regular audience of ARVO.I think it’s a great experience to give back to whatyou get from these societies and meetings. You have anopportunity to create change within the organization andthe ARVO Meeting, and if someone is interested, theycan really make significant changes. I’ve been encouragingmany of my colleagues; the broader the membership iswithin each committee the better we can address the needsof the different types of member we have within ARVO.Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MDn Chair-elect, Ethics and Regulationsin Human Research Committeen WEAVR Networking Committeen Annual Meeting ProgramCommitteethink ARVO is a great organization.I I’ve been in it for almost 25 years, andit continues to improve. It’s becomemore organized; it gives opportunitiesfor really good research, as well asfor people to get feedback on early research. I think thereare many ways that it’s been beneficial. Committees thathave formed bring in other aspects of science that are veryimportant, like ethics for example, or women networking,or the opportunity to put together programs that would beof interest to people.The Ethics Committee is really looking at ways to remindus to have good behavior in science. During this time whenwe have a reduction in funding it just becomes even moreimportant to make sure that the behavior we use when weconduct science is ethical, because it’s easy to have a slipperyslope, especially when times are tough. n8 ARVONews Spring 2013

CommitteesCommittee updateAdvocacy■■The May 2012 workshop “AdvocacyReally Matters” is available as a videoon demand (free to members) throughARVO’s online learning portal atarvo.org/videos.■■ARVO sent a letter summarizingmembers’ concerns on the proposedtracking of trainees to NIH. This isavailable on the ARVO ResearchAdvocacy web page. NIH sent aresponse to the listed concerns backto ARVO, and we posted these on theResearch Advocacy page as well.Animals in Research■■The committee revised the“Importance of Animals in VisionResearch” and “Statement for the Useof Animals in Ophthalmic and VisionResearch” statements. Look for themsoon on the ARVO website.■■■■A new toolkit will replace theHandbook for the Use of Animals inResearch.The 2013 workshop topic is: “LifeChanging Impacts of InternationalExtremism on Animal Research.”Awards■■■■Convened by conference call in April2013 for final review and evaluation ofthe nominations for the 2013 ARVOAchievement and Camras Awards.In November, the committee put forththeir 2013 awards recommendationsfor approval by the Board of Trustees.Commercial Relationships■■Sponsoring a workshop “For Me, orNot For Me: That Is the Question— Industry Funding for Researchand Education” for the 2013 AnnualMeeting.■■■■The group is also offering a courseon Saturday, May 4, “Early-StageStartup Companies: Strategies forEntrepreneurship in Ophthalmology”in Seattle the day before the AnnualMeeting.Currently reviewing how to best displaycommercial relationship informationduring Annual Meeting presentations.Continuing Medical EducationLooking to expand offerings for CMEto members including e-posters andonline educational opportunities,particularly in the following topics:institutional review boards, informedconsent, surgical techniques, clinicaltrials and new drug development.■■Diversity IssuesOrganizing a new workshop forARVO 2013: “Managing YourResearch, Teaching and Service,”co-sponsored by the Members-in-Training Committee.■■■■■■The ARVO Board of Trusteeshas approved the continuation ofthe ARVO High School Vision(Outreach) Program at ARVO 2013.Laura Robles (previous DIC chair)and Andrew Tsin (current DIC chair)attended the SACNAS meeting inSeattle, Wash., in October 2012.Emily Sales was selected for presentingthe best poster on vision research.Sales will present her research projectat the ARVO 2013 Annual Meeting.Ethics and Regulations inHuman Research■■Sponsoring a workshop “From StolenIdeas to False Data: Shining a Lighton Scientific Misconduct” at the2013 Annual Meeting. The workshopincludes several high-profile speakers,including John Dahlberg, the directorof the Division of InvestigativeOversight for the Office of ResearchIntegrity.International Members■■Looking at ways to increase fundingfor international research.■■Providing input to staff on the impactof moving the Annual Meeting forinternational attendees.■■■■Will be working with ARVO staffto update the International AdvocacyHandbook in the coming year.Members-in-TrainingRevised the committee descriptionto more accurately reflect currentactivities.arvo.org 9■■■■■■Will continue to host a first-timeattendee table at the 2013 AnnualMeeting.Organizing two Pizza with the Expertssessions at the 2013 meeting.Sponsoring the “Clinician-ScientistForum: How to Become a SuccessfulClinician-Scientist,” and the Membersin-TrainingCareer Forum.Professional Development andEducation■■Looking at different ways to increaseand improve educational opportunitiesfor members. Ideas include onlineeducation, session capture and livestream. The committee is dedicatedto increasing the number, quality andconsistency of education and professionaldevelopment programs offeredby ARVO.PublicationsSponsoring the workshop “GettingPublished: The Good, the Bad and theUgly” at the 2013 Meeting.■■■■■■Currently reviewing the subject ofopen access and how ARVO couldrespond to possible changes in federalpolicy.Also looking at issues such as plagiarismand author sanctions. nClarification: Extremists vsactivistsIn the Summer/Fall 2012 issueof ARVONews, we referred to“animal terrorists” in an articleabout a new toolkit the Animals inResearch Committee has developed.The term “terrorist” in thissense does not refer to animalrights activists in general. It refersto extremists, ie, those who harassresearchers (who are complyingwith internationally acceptedstandards in the use of animals inresearch) in a threatening manner,those who use threats of violenceto attack researchers and/or thosewho actually carry out violentattacks. n

Innovating and Converging Technologiesin Vision Research28-31 October 2013 | New Delhi, IndiaWelcome!On behalf of ARVO, its India Internation Chapter Affiliate — the Indian Eye ResearchGroup (IERG-ARVO-IC) — and the Ophthalmic Research Association of the Dr.Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Science, All India Institute of MedicalSciences, New Delhi (ORA-RPC), we are delighted to host Asia-ARVO 2013 at thehistoric city of New Delhi, the capital of India, during October 28-31, 2013.The announcement of this meeting has already met with an enthusiastic responsefrom all corners of the globe, as vision researchers express interest in participating inthis biennial vision research event.Asia-ARVO 2013 brings together the best in vision research, amalgamating basicand clinical science, taking bench-top work to the bedside and onwards to the community.We are arranging a comprehensive academic program in which acknowledgedexperts in vision sciences will interact with young innovators and researchers,the leaders of tomorrow. We have therefore chosen the theme of Asia-ARVO 2013as “Innovating and Converging Technologies in Vision Research.”Asia-ARVO 2013 boasts of several “firsts,” such as live surgeries, wet labs, sessionsfor paramedical professionals in ophthalmic care, and an “India Gate” sessionfor posters. It will be a knowledge hub for the integration of expertise from all overAsia and around the world, with something for everyone. We hope you will seizethe opportunity to be part of this prestigious event. In keeping with the tradition ofencouraging scientists and ophthalmologists in training, we plan to have as many as50 travel grant awards to young vision scientists.We invite you to mark 28-31 October 2013 on your calendar to join us in New Delhi.For more detailed information, please visit arvo.org/asiaarvo.Craig E. Crosson D. Balasubramanian Rajvardhan AzadARVO IERG-ARVO-IC ORA-RPC10 ARVONews Spring 2013

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■Stem cell biologyStem cell-based therapiesReprogramming andregenerationGene therapySmall molecule screening anddrug discoveryModel organismsEye developmentInherited eye diseasesGenetics of AMDUnderstanding AMDDiabetic retinopathy: RecentadvancesRecent advances in glaucomaCommon eye diseases: Whatis new?Lens: what don’t we knowyet?Gene regulation duringdevelopment and diseaseDr. Anand SwaroopDr. Radha AyyagiriMr. Christopher BrandDr. NachiketaDr. Gyan PrakashDr. K.S. ReddyDr. Paul SievingProf. Donald TanTopics■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■Signaling pathwaysAngiogenesisCrystallins, chaperons andheat shock proteinsOxidative stress: Is itresponsible for all advancedage diseasesAging and eye diseaseAnti-oxidants: A cure for all illsEpidemiology of eye diseasesin developing countriesInfections and eye diseaseVision beyond retina:Processing of visualinformationPhysiology of visionThe eye and systemicdiseasesProposed/Confirmed Speakers■■■■■■Dr. Aung TinProf. Susumu IshidaProf. Janet SparrowProf. C.P. PangDr. Gislin DanieleDr. Terri YoungDr. Jodhbir MehtaKey datesMarch 30Abstract submission opensApril 27Registration opensMay 23Abstract submission closesOctober 14Early registration deadlineFor more informationor to register, seearvo.org/asiaarvoRegistration Early Late On siterates registration registration registrationIndian delegatesIndia Eye Research Group(IERG) member Rs 4,000/- Rs. 5,000/- Rs. 6,000/-Non IERG members Rs:5,000/- Rs. 6,000/- Rs. 7,000/-Member-in-training Rs. 2,000/- Rs. 2,500/- Rs. 2,500/-Non IndianDelegatesARVO member US $375 US $425 US $475Non ARVO member US $425 US $475 US $500Member-in-training US $175 US $225 US $225ARVOThe Association for Researchin Vision and Ophthalmologyarvo.org 11

Around the globeCHAPTER AFFILIATEARVO-NED — affiliated 2008Nijmegan, the Netherlandsoogheelkunde.orgAsociación de Investigación enVisión y Oftalmologia (AIVO) —affiliated 2007Buenos Aires, Argentinaaivo.com.arAustrian Association for Researchin Vision and Ophthalmology(AARVO) — affiliated 2009Vienna, AustriaBrazilian Research Associationof Vision and Ophthalmology(BRAVO) — affiliated 2006São Paulo, BrazilChinese Congress of Research inVision and Ophthalmology (CCRVO)— affiliated 2010Beijing, P.R. ChinaColegio Nacional de Investigaciónen Ciencias Visuales (MARVO) —affiliated 2010Mexico City, D.F., Mexicomexarvo.orgHungarian Association forResearch in Vision andOphthalmology (HARVO) —affiliated 2007Budapest, Hungaryharvo.orgIndia Eye Research Group – ARVO(IERG-ARVO) — affiliated 2011Hyderabad, IndiaIsrael Society for Vision and EyeResearch (ISVER) — affiliated 2006Jerusalem, IsraelARVO Italy (IT-ARVO) —affiliated 2011Catania, ItalySouth-East European Associationfor Research in Vision andOphthalmology (SEE-ARVO) —affiliated 2009Sofia, Bulgaria nSee arvo.org/affiliatesAIVO hosts Ninth annual meetingThe Argentinean Associationfor Research in Vision andOphthalmology (AIVO) held itsninth annual research conference lastNovember in Buenos Aires. This meetingbrought together nearly130 clinical and basicresearchers in the fieldof ophthalmology, whobelong to research groupsaround the country. Themeeting consisted of plenarylectures and over 40presentations from thosewho submitted abstracts,allowing colleagues fromacross Argentina toanalyze and discuss theresults of their work.The plenary lectures were given byinternational guests Valeria Canto Soler,PhD, and Paulo E. Stanga, MD. CantoSoler is assistant professor of ophthalmologyand director of the RetinalDegenerations Research Center at theWilmer Eye Institute at Johns HopkinsUniversity, Baltimore, Md. She spokeabout her research on the mechanismsthat control the behavior of retinalprogenitor cells, which might allow thedesign of regenerative therapeutic strategiesfor the treatment of retinal degenerations.Stanga is associate professor of ophthalmologyat Manchester University,U.K., and consultant ophthalmologistand vitreo-retinal surgeon at ManchesterRoyal Eye Hospital,Central Manchester andManchester Children’sUniversity HospitalsNHS Trust. He specializesin the medical andsurgical treatment ofvitreo-retinal disorderssuch as AMD, includinganti-VEGF therapy,diabetic retinopathy andmaculopathy, retinal veinocclusions, macular holeand retinal detachment.Stanga is also pioneeringsurgery for artificial visionAIVO President Juan Gallo, MD, PhDin blindness that includes electronicepiretinal prosthesis implantation or the“bionic eye.” At the meeting, he spokeabout the outcome of Argus II epiretinalelectronic implant for blindness in retinitispigmentosa, aswell as the advancesin OCT.Invited speakersfor the meeting’ssymposium on theRole of Stem Cellsand the Regulationof the Cell Cycle inRetina were MarceloZas, MD, PhD;Maria Paula Faillace,PhD; Luis EnriquePoliti, PhD; and Canto Soler. Theydiscussed their data, the latest advancesand the challenges that remain for thesuccessful use of stem cells to treat retinaregeneration.At the end of the meeting, the executivecommittee assessed the progress ofthe Association and discussed the ambitiousproject to organize a joint meetingin 2013 with another ARVO chapteraffiliate, Brazilian Research in Vision andOphthalmology Association, to fosterinteractions and promote collaborationbetween research groups from both countriesworking in the field of ophthalmology.This is scheduled to be held in Riode Janeiro on August 10 within the frameof the 30th Pan-American Congress ofOphthalmology. nFrom left, Florencia Braga Menendez (Copidis), Dr. Paulo Stanga ofManchester University, Legislator Morales Gorleri, Dr. Canto Soler ofJohns Hopkins University and AIVO President Juan E. Gallo. Solerand Stanga were awarded Outstanding Scientific Personalities by theBuenos Aires City Legislature.12 ARVONews Spring 2013

Around the globeItaly affiliate hosts first meeting,prepares for new yearAfter becoming an international chapteraffiliate in 2011, IT-ARVO hosted itsinaugural annual meeting and organized theEuropean Frontiers in Ocular Pharmacology(EFOP) lecture in 2012.Their first meeting was in Catania, Italy,last February and the plenary lecture wasdelivered by executive vice president of ARVOCraig Crosson, PhD, FARVO. The EFOP tookplace at the School of Medicine of CataniaUniversity, Italy. To be held once a month fromNovember through June each year, this CMEcourse will include a one-hour lecture by anoutstanding scientist, plus a 30-minute Meetthe Expert session. The course targets PhD students,post-docs and residents in pharmacologyand ophthalmology, as well as ophthalmologists.Upcoming events include the 2013IT-ARVO annual meeting Feb. 1 – 2, and thenext EFOP lecture in the series ending June 7,2013. The annual meeting highlighting “OcularPain” will include a plenary lecture deliveredby Carlos Belmonte, MD, FARVO, fromthe Miguel Hernández-Consejo University,Alicante, Spain. Many distinguishedscientists in the field ofeye research will serve as speakers,including Frank Giblin, PhD,FARVO, of Oakland University,Rochester, Mich.; FriedrichPaulsen, MD, of University ofErlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen;and Anselm Kampik, MD,FARVO of Ludwig MaximiliansUniversity, Munich.These events are promoted bythe president of IT-ARVO, FilippoDrago, MD, PhD, and the vicepresident Teresio Avitabile, both professors atthe University of Catania. Claudio Bucolo,PhD, who serves as secretary and treasurer,organizes the scientifc program. nIT-ARVO President FilippoDrago, MD, PhDScientists know which research could lead tonew ophthalmic products.You know the path to the marketplace.This unique seminar brings you together.Vision Innovation andVenture ForumConnecting ophthalmicresearchers and investorsMay 3, 2013 | Renaissance Hotel | Seattle, Wash.arvofoundation.org/visionforumarvo.org 13

Awards and GrantsImaging sweeps 2012 Champalimaud AwardFive ARVO members received the prestigious2012 António ChampalimaudVision Award: James Fujimoto, PhD;David Huang, MD, PhD; CarmenPuliafito, MD; Joel Schuman, MD,FARVO; and David R. Williams, PhD,FARVO. Eric Swanson, MS, was also arecipient. The researchers were acknowledgedfor the development of two novelapproaches to visualizing the living humanretina in health and disease.Optical coherence tomography (OCT)was developed by merging the low coherenceinterferometry methodologies ofFujimoto, Huang and Swanson withinsights for their clinical ocular applicationby Puliafito and Schuman. By revealingthe human retina at remarkable resolution,OCT has already led to improveddiagnostics and clinical management.Williams’ application of adaptive opticstechnologies to the eye brings retinal cellsinto sharp focus by correcting for naturaloptical imperfections of the cornea andlens, making it possible to view and countARVO 2013 AnnualMeeting — SeattleARVO/ChampalimaudAward LectureTuesday, May 7, 7 – 8:30pmDavid Williams and James FujimotoThe 2012 António ChampalimaudVision Award recognizes thedevelopment of two novelapproaches to visualising theliving human retina in healthand disease: optical coherencetomography (OCT) and adaptiveoptics technologies (AO). Awardwinners Fujimoto and Williamswill discuss their research andimplications on future therapies.individual cone photoreceptors in theliving human retina. This has dramaticallyadvanced the ability to probe thedimensions of the cone spacing matrix,a limiting factor in visual resolution.Imaging individual cones non-invasivelyover weeks, months and years is providingnovel insights into retinal changes causedby aging and disease.In their own wordsDavid Huang, MD, PhD (Weeks Professorof Ophthalmic Research and a professor ofophthalmology and biomedical engineering,Oregon Health & Science University)“My fellow recipients and I developedthe original OCTtechnology and initiatedthe approachesthat led to widespreadapplicationsin retinal diseases,glaucoma and anteriorsegment surgery.David Huang, MD,PhDSome of us also participatedin improvingthe technologythat include abouta tenfold improvement in resolution anda thousand-fold improvement in speed,plus myriad innovations in image contrastand segmentation. All these efforts madeit possible for OCT to become the mostcommonly used imaging test in ophthalmology.”What next?“This award is a great boost for moralein my research group — to know thatour work is important and recognized. Amajor new focus in our work is to makefunctional OCT as successful as structuralOCT. And the functional image contrastthat we are working on include DopplerOCT for retinal blood flow measurementand OCT angiography for the assessmentof ONH, retinal and choroidal microcirculation.”Joel Schuman, MD, FACS, FARVO(Eye & Ear Foundation Professor andChairman, Department of Ophthalmology;director of the UPMC Eye Center;Joel Schuman, MD,FACS, FARVOprofessor of bioengineering;GlaucomaService, University ofPittsburgh School ofMedicine)“Our collaborationinvented themedical imagingmodality of opticalcoherence tomography(OCT) anddeveloped OCT intoa practical clinical tool that has becomea standard of care in ophthalmology forthe diagnosis and treatment of the mostimportant blinding diseases of the industrializedworld: macular degeneration,diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.“OCT is considered a standard of carein ophthalmology. It is now the most commonlyperformed ophthalmic diagnosticprocedure, with millions of proceduresperformed annually. OCT played a majorrole in the development of pharmacotherapyof retinal diseases such as maculardegeneration and diabetic retinopathy,since it is the most useful tool to assesstherapeutic response. OCT is used globallyin the detection and managementof glaucoma. OCT provides high resolutionimages of the retina, optic nerve andanterior eye that are impossible to obtainin vivo by any other non-invasive methodand plays a key role in clinical and visionresearch. OCT enables understanding ofdisease pathogenesis, 3D visualization,quantitative measurement and mapping ofstructure, and repeated assessment to evaluateprogression of disease and response totherapy. OCT is a critical tool for acceleratingthe pace of ophthalmic research aswell as providing clinical care.”What next?“The Champalimaud Award is a tremendouslyprestigious prize. The funds providedby the Champalimaud Foundationwill permit further exploration, inventionand translation in ocular OCT. Throughthese discretionary research moniesprojects riskier than those usually fundedby NIH will be possible, and can providepreliminary data for future NIH funding.”14 ARVONews Spring 2013

Awards and GrantsDavid Williams, PhD,FARVODavid Williams,PhD, FARVO(William G. AllynChair of MedicalOptics; directorof the Center forVisual Science;professor ofoptics, ophthalmology,biomedicalengineering,and brain andcognitive sciences), University ofRochester“One of the remarkable thingsabout our discoveries in adaptiveimaging (AO) is that AO ended uphaving ramifications in two completelyseparate areas. First, AOcorrects aberrations, which meanspeople can see better. This theorywas around for a long time beforemy colleagues and I came along,but we were able to change the waymainstream optometry thinks aboutdefects in the eye.“AO is also being used worldwidein refractive surgery and to designnew intraocular lenses and contactlens. It’s transformed the whole fieldof vision correction. And you cancorrect aberrations of light leavingthe eye, so you can take pictures withgreat accuracy.”What’s next?“Receiving the ChampalimaudAward is huge because it gives melicense to do high-risk experimentsthat I normally never would be ableto do. I hope to be able to generatethe kind of pilot data that I need towork toward the next generation oftechnology. AO is one of a wholespectrum of possible tools in combinationwith each other to learn aboutthe normal as well as the diseasedretina. I believe we will be able topush AO to its limits, with methodslike fluorescence imaging and photonimaging. AO has dealt with aberrations,but defraction is still a source ofblur. We have some ideas about thisand some day may be able to beat thedefraction barrier. We can begin thatexploration with these funds.” n■■AchievementAwards2014 Call forNominationsFor younger investigatorsCogan Award — Recognizes a researcherwho is 40 years of age or younger at thetime of nomination, and who has madeimportant and worthwhile contributionsto research in ophthalmology or visualscience that are directly related todisorders of the human eye or visualsystem, and who shows substantialpromise for future contributions.■■ARVO Foundation/Pfizer Ophthalmics/Carl Camras Translational ResearchAwards — Recognizes early careerresearchers, no more than 45 yearsold, who exhibit excellence in research,scientific discoveries, concepts and noveltechnologies that have led to, or have thepromise to lead to, clinical applications.Meet the FARVO Class of 2013Congratulations to the 33 members who have achieved the status ofFellow of ARVO (FARVO) for 2013 — either as a new Silver Fellowor moved up to the rank of Gold Fellow. The title of ARVO Fellow is anhonor that recognizes current members for their leadership and contributionsto the Association.Eligibility for the Fellow designation is determined by a point systemestablished by the ARVO Board, under which members are awardedpoints for participation in the activities.Read more at arvo.org/awards/fellows.Silver FellowsNeeraj AgarwalAles CveklM Elizabeth HartnettMineo KondoJohn LandrumBeryl OrtwerthAustin RoordaSayon RoyJose SahelMansoor SarfaraziDavid SullivanMasayo TakahashiDavid WilliamsTien WongGold FellowsPablo ArtalDirk-Uwe BartschRoger BeuermanMichelle CalleganUsha ChakravarthyCraig CrossonReza DanaC. EthierAnne FultonMaria GrantJames HandaRenu KowluruVincent LeeJ. NickersonCynthia OwsleyStephen PflugfelderJustine SmithW. Daniel StamerJohn Werner nFor long-term career achievementProctor Medal — Honors outstandingresearch in the basic or clinical sciencesas applied to ophthalmology.■■■■■■■■■■■■Friedenwald Award — Honors outstandingresearch in the basic or clinical sciencesas applied to ophthalmology.Weisenfeld Award — Recognizes distinguishedscholarly contributions to theclinical practice of ophthalmology.Kupfer Award — Honors distinguishedpublic service on behalf of eye and visionresearch.Special Recognition Award — Honorsoutstanding service to ARVO or the visionresearch community.Joanne G. Angle Award — recognizesoutstanding leaders who have made significantcontinuous contributions to ARVO.Deadline is March 1, 2013.Nominations must include a detailednomination letter, a CV and three briefletters from colleagues who support thenomination. Details and eligibility forms canbe found at arvo.org/awards.arvo.org 15

Meetings and educationARVOImagingConferenceNew online: “How to Get Published” course;Annual Meeting sessionsTake advantage of several exciting online learning opportunities thatare free for ARVO members!“An Introduction to GettingPublished in Scientific Journals” isa self-paced course that you can use atyour own speed from your computer orlaptop, or even from a mobile deviceif you prefer to learn on-the-go. Thiscourse, free to ARVO members ($79for nonmembers) has been developedfor authors who are non-native Englishspeakers and are from economicallyemerging countries. The course focuseson major elements of scientific writingand publishing, including how toprepare to write an article, and where,when and how to get your paperpublished.You can also access recorded sessionsfrom Annual Meetings, 2009– 2012. Sessions include ARVO/Alcon Keynotes, IVAN/CATT studyresults, symposia, workshops and awardlectures. Visitwww.prolibraries.com/redeem to getstarted. When prompted, enter theconference code ARVOACCESS,then create a ProLibraries account toget the recordings. You must be loggedinto ProLibraries for full access to thevideos.For more information, visitarvo.org/online_education. nIM section members present younginvestigator awardsLearn aboutthe current researchand state-of-the-arttechnology inophthalmic imagingMay 4, 20138am – 5:45pmSeattle Sheraton HotelSeattle, Wash.www.arvo.org/isieThe Raniyah Ramadan Award, now in itssecond year, will be given to the best ocularmicrobiology poster or paper presentationat the ARVO Annual Meeting. Thisaward honors the memory and scientificcontributions of our colleague and friend,Dr. Raniyah Ramadan, who passed away in2011 following a hard fought battle withcancer. Dr. Ramadan’s family is recognizingher enthusiasm for vision research byproviding this award to young investigatorsattending ARVO, a meeting at whichRaniyah presented and enjoyed attendingthe past several years.The Cora Verhagen Prize was instituted in1995 to honor the memory and scientificcontributions of our colleague CoraVerhagen by awarding the best ocularimmunology poster or paper presentationat the ARVO Annual Meeting.The award is supported by Cora’s familyand donors to the Verhagen fundat the Streilein Foundation of OcularImmunology.These awards are judged independentlyat the ARVO 2013 Annual Meetingand will be awarded at the ARVO 2014Annual Meeting in Orlando. The firstprize winners will each receive an awardof $250, a traveling plaque with theirnames inscribed along with those of previousawardees and a bronze medallion. Thesecond prize winners will each receive anaward of $150.Applicants must be a trainee graduatestudent or postdoctoral fellow presentinga first author poster or paper at the ARVO2013 Annual Meeting in an IM sponsoredsession. Excluded are individuals with permanentfaculty appointments, employeesof companies or those who received theirdoctorates more than three years ago.To apply, email by April 6 your name,institute, the name of your mentor andthe title of your ARVO presentation.Place the name of the award (Ramadan orVerhagen) in the subject line.Raniyah Ramadan award inmicrobiology:Michelle C. Callegan atMichelle-Callegan@ouhsc.eduCora Verhagen award in immunology:Andrew W. Taylor atawtaylor@bu.edu n16 ARVONews Spring 2013

NEI Director’s messageThe full value of vision research and the NEIAudacious Goals InitiativeYou are probably familiar with the NEIChallenge to Identify Audacious Goals inVision Research and Blindness Rehabilitation,part of the larger NEI Audacious GoalsInitiative, which aims to promote innovation invision research.When NEI set out to create a list of audaciousgoals for vision research, we were interested inidentifying bold new ideas that we could importfrom a range of disciplines to align with the NEImission: to conduct and support research andother programs aimed at reducing the burden ofvision disorders and disease worldwide. Visionresearchers embraced the initiative, and we areindebted to ARVO and its members for supportingthe effort so enthusiastically. But what hasstruck me repeatedly is therole that vision researchplays in scientific discoursein general. Simply stated,the broad scientific communitymay have as much togain from Audacious Goalsas will vision science.For example, visionresearchers recently foundthat peptides cleaved fromcorneal epithelial cytokeratinshave strong antimicrobial properties. Thediscovery helps explain why the normal corneais so resistant to infection and suggests potentialavenues for the development of new antibiotics,not only for corneal infections but for infectionselsewhere in the body. This is an increasinglyimportant area of research in our present era ofemerging antibiotic-resistant superbugs.That vision researchers are drivers of innovationis, of course, nothing new. Vision scientistswere the first to make use of the InternationalHapMap, an extension of the Human GenomeProject that charted normal human geneticvariation. In 2005, researchers discovered thatcomplement factor H gene variants influenceage-related macular degeneration risk. Visionresearchers are also pioneering gene therapy andstem cell therapeutics. The 2008 trials for theinherited retinal disease Leber congenital amaurosisare counted among the first major successesfor gene therapy. Vision researchers were the firstto treat humans with cells derived from embryonicstem cells. Several groups are now close toSimply stated, thebroad scientificcommunity may haveas much to gain fromAudacious Goals aswill vision science.initiating clinical trials to treat eye diseases withcells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells.Vision researchers are also blazing the frontierof clinical imaging. Optical coherence tomography(OCT), an imaging tool now in standarduse in ophthalmology, is being adopted byresearchers to evaluate tissues in other areas ofthe body. Researchers recently demonstrated theuse of OCT to localize shear stress in the heartsof developing chicken embryos, with the overallgoal of better understanding and preventingcongenital heart defects.Vision researchers are now expanding OCTand other imaging modalities to the next levelby incorporating adaptive optics (AO) — atechnology pioneered by astronomers to reduceoptical distortion andenhance image resolutionin telescopes. Visionresearchers recently demonstratedin humans the useof adaptive optics scanninglaser ophthalmoscopy todetect subclinical signs ofdiabetic retinopathy, such asthe presence of microaneurysms.These examples illustratethe innovativeness of vision researchers andunderscore the enormous contributions visionscience is making to other disciplines. As with allgood research, collaboration is at the heart of theAudacious Goals Initiative.By the time this column is published, theNEI will be gearing up for the AudaciousGoals Development Meeting (nei.nih.gov/AGmeeting), Feb. 24 – 26, 2013, where we willdiscuss ideas generated through the Challenge.I eagerly anticipate hearing many novel ideasfor vision research, and I suspect many will betransferable to other fields. nPaul A. Sieving, MD,PhD, FARVODirector, NationalEye InstituteNational Institutesof Healtharvo.org 17

AdvocacySix-month continuing resolution fundsNEI at FY2012 levelFY2012 FY2013FY2012 of .189% net President’s FY2013 FY2013Final Rescission Budget Senate HouseNIH* $30.7B $30.64B 30.6B 30.7B $30.6B+1% +.81% 0% +0.3% 0%NEI $704.04M $702.71M $693.01M $695.1M $701.8M+.46% +.27% -1.2% -0.9%** -0.01%* Program level — Net of transfers** $8.9M cut due to dissolution of CMV Retinitis study; Senate adds $2MOn September 28, President Obama signedthe six-month Continuing Resolution(CR) that funds most government operations atthe FY2012 level until March 27, 2013.Although the CR had an across-theboardspending increase of 0.612%, Office ofManagement and Budget (OMB) guidancestated that each federal agency would onlyreceive an increase if requested. To date, theDepartment of Health and Human Services hasnot made a request on behalf of NIH.As a result, NIH and NEI are funded duringthe CR at the FY2012 level (per the fundingchart, the net of a 0.189% rescission), or$30.64 billion and $702.7 million, respectively.This assumes that the NIH’s Office ofAIDS Research will not transfer $8.2 millionfrom the NEI due to the dissolution of theCytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis clinical trials,as proposed in the President’s FY2013 budgetand the Senate’s FY2013 Labor, Health andHuman Services, and Education spending bill.The House bill is silent on this transfer.On October 11, NIH released guidancethat non-competing grants would be funded at90% until FY2013 appropriations are finalized,in line with past policy during CRs, and thatthe extramural grant salary cap would remainat Executive Level II ($179,700), the FY2012level.At press time, appropriators were finalizingan omnibus spending bill, although timing onthat is uncertain. nNIH names NCATS directorChristopher Austin, MD, is the new directorof the National Center for AdvancingTranslational Sciences (NCATS). He succeedsNCATS Acting Director Thomas Insel, MD,who continues to serve as the director of theNational Institute of Mental Health.Austin, who previously served as director ofthe NCATS Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation,received his medical degree from HarvardNew NCATS Director Medical School, where he performed a fellowshipChristopher Austin,in developmental genetics of the retina. His firstMDNIH grant was a Clinician-Scientist Award fromthe NEI.The announcement was made at the first meeting of theNCATS Advisory Council, which was held jointly with the CuresAcceleration Network (CAN) Review Board. Both entities were legislativelymandated, and the CAN program resides within NCATS.Insel noted that NCATS’s mission is to find a “different way ofdoing business” as it relates to the translation of basic research intodiagnostics and therapeutics, which includes drugs, devices andbiologics. Although NCATS will serve as a catalyst for collaborationsand can develop the infrastructure and support for clinical trials, itmay not conduct these past Phase IIA.Specific goals include addressing the bottlenecks in translation,engaging the advocacy community as it relates to the NCATS portfolio,and developing collaborations within and outside of the NIH. nClayton heads NIH Office onWomen’s ResearchJanine Austin Clayton, MD, FARVO, is the newdirector of the Office of Research on Women’sHealth and the associate director of Research onWomen’s Health.Formerly the deputy clinical director at NEI,Clayton has spoken on Capitol Hill on behalf ofAEVR and the Vision 2020/USA on aging eyeresearch and the global burden on women from eyedisease.At the September 5 NIH Council of Councilsmeeting, Mae Gordon, PhD (WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine), concluded herthree-year termas the NationalAdvisory EyeCouncil’s(NAEC)representativeto the Council.NEI will shortlyannounce thenew NAEC representative.nJanine Clayton, MD, FARVO, andMae Gordon, PhD18 ARVONews Spring 2013

AdvococyVision community educates Capitol HillOn World Sight Day 2012, 13 domestic and internationalvision community organizations (including ARVO) joined Vision2020/USA in hosting a Congressional briefing emphasizingcollaborations in vision research and vision loss prevention.Speakers Gyan “John” Prakash, PhD (left), NEI’s associatedirector for international programs, and John Crews, DPA(right), CDC’s Vision Health Initiative,addressed how NEI-funded research oneye disease and potential therapies drivesCDC initiatives to characterize diseasesin the population and develop preventionstrategies.ARVOmembers tohead to HillOn Feb. 7, 2013,members of theARVO Annual MeetingProgram Committeewill participate in anAdvocacy Day hosted byNAEVR. The aim is toensure that members ofthe 113 th Congress, FirstSession, hear from thevision community aboutthe importance of finalFY2013 appropriationsthat adequately fundvision research. nDECADE OF VISION2010-2020an initiative of theAlliance For Eye And Vision ResearchAt the AEVR Congressional briefing held during InternationalAMD Awareness Week, ARVO member Gregory Hageman, PhD,of the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, spoke about hisresearch which suggests that AMD maybe multiple biological diseases. From left,Jenny Wilson also of Moran Eye Center,Hageman, Michael Duenas, OD, of theAmerican Optometric Association and MattMcMahon, PhD, NEI senior advisor fortranslational research.Lighthouse International and vision community co-sponsorshosted a Congressional briefing on low vision and visionrehabilitation. From left, Mark Ackermann, president and CEOof Lighthouse along with event co-sponsors David Danielson ofthe American Optometric Association, Mark Richert and PaulSchroeder of American Foundation for the Blind, Ali Mansonof Prevent Blindness America, Roxanne Mayros of VisionServeAlliance, James Jorkasky of AEVR, and Bruce Rosenthal, OD, ofLighthouse, who was a featured speaker.arvo.org 19

JournalsIntroducing David BeebeIt is my great pleasure to begin my term aseditor-in-chief (EIC) of IOVS. Thank you tothe ARVO membership for electing me to thisprestigious position. I would also like to say avery special thank you to Paul Kaufman, MD,outgoing EIC, for his expert management andinnovative contributions to IOVS these pastfive years. I will dedicate the next five yearsto validating your confidence in me and toenhancing the quality and stature of IOVS.Although IOVS is one of the most comprehensiveand respected journals in eye andvision research, a large number of authors arenot members of ARVO. Please encourage yourcolleagues to join ARVO to benefit from themany advantages of membership in the ARVOcommunity, including the free color optionwhen they publish their work in IOVS.Impact Factor (IF)The IOVS editors and staff recognize theimportance of the journal’s IF for many authors.We will work to improve this metric, whilerecognizing that our primary job is to serve themembers of ARVO by publishing high qualitypapers in all areas of vision research. The IOVSstaff will work with Thomson Reuters to obtainmore detailed reporting on IOVS citations.This information will guide future decisions toenhance the IOVS’s IF.invite someone who has performed well in thepast.As recognition of the service provided bythe very best reviewers, we instituted a new categoryfor scoring reviews, “Exceptionally GoodReview.” Reviewers who achieve this rankingreceive a special email thanking them for goingabove and beyond expectations in their review.Ultimately, it is the reviewers who maintainthe quality of a journal and assist authors inimproving their work. If you have served as areviewer for IOVS, thank you! I look forwardto your continuing contributions to the journaland to vision research.Looking aheadYou can expect that IOVS will not change radicallyin the next few years, but will continue tomake gradual changes that enhance the qualityof the journal and increase access to it by visionscientists around the world. The IOVS staffhave consistently maintained the journal on asteady course. We all benefit from their dedicationand professionalism. I will work closelywith them to increase the efficiency of the journal,while always being open to your suggestionsfor improvement. I look forward to workingwith you over the next five years to enhanceand extend the impact of IOVS. nDavid Beebe, PhD,FARVOIOVSInvestigative Ophthalmology& Visual Sciencewww.iovs.orgReviewers, the heart and soul of thejournalIt is difficult to overstate the exceptional valueprovided to the journal by the thousands of colleagueswho review manuscripts for IOVS eachyear. We all benefit immensely from their dedicationand service. While serving as an editorialboard member and associate editor for IOVS, Ihave been consistently impressed by the time,effort and expertise generouslyoffered by the vast majority ofreviewers.However, we all know thatour manuscripts do not alwaysland on the desk of the mostexpert or thoughtful reviewer.It may come as a surpriseto the readers of IOVS thatall reviews are now scoredfor quality. These scores aresaved, so that when an editorialboard member is seeking areviewer for a paper, they canDavid BeebeEditor-in-ChiefBeebe, a former ARVO president, is the Janet andBernard Becker Professor of Ophthalmology andVisual Sciences at Washington University in St.Louis, Mo.Ranking 5-Year Cited ArticleTotal (out of 56 Impact Impact Immediacy Half- Eigenfactor InfluenceCites journals) Factor Factor Index Articles life Score ScoreIOVS 37,341 6 3.597 3.862 0.641 1,198 7.3 0.07569 1.086JOV 6,214 7 3.376 3.646 0.653 268 3.6 0.02875 1.244The Impact Factor (IF) of a journal is the average number of citations received per paper published in thatjournal during the two preceding years.ARVO journals IOVS and JOV were cited a total of 45,355 times during 2009 and 2010.The Eigenfactor Score rates the importance of a scientific journal. Eigenfactor Scores and Article Influencescores are calculated by eigenfactor.org, and full free access is allowed. The Eigenfactor Score is regardedas more flexible than Impact Factor.arvo.org 21

JournalsPaul L. Kaufman, MD,FARVOIOVSInvestigative Ophthalmology& Visual Sciencewww.iovs.orgFive years on…This January, as we witness yet another orderlytransition of power among our electedrepresentatives on Capitol Hill, IOVS alsowitnesses a transition between editors-in-chiefas my five-year term comes to an end, and as aresult of the 2011 election for a new editor-inchief.As a scientific journal, IOVS processes anddisseminates scholarly content and is thereforein the unique position of being a hub for ourcommunity; able to move science forward bygenerating new ideas and results.Readers can now cite papers withindays of acceptance in “Recently AcceptedPapers.” Articles — once edited and proofed— are now published online, instead ofwaiting for the traditional monthly batch.In my recent editorial in IOVS [iovs.org/content/53/13/8238.full], I have providedNew book: 50 years ofthe best of IOVSIOVS turns 50 this year. To celebrate, ARVO willbe publishing a 900+ page volume, The Best ofInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.And who better to select the groundbreaking,seminal and controversial papers from Volume 1 ofInvestigative Ophthalmology through Volume 52 ofInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science thanthe most recent four editors-in-chief?They are:■■■■■■■■David Beebe, PhD, FARVOGerald Chader, PhD, FARVOPaul Kaufman, MD,FARVORobert Frank, MD,FARVOBoth hardbackand paperbackeditions will beavailable forsale at the2013 AnnualMeetingmany examples of how IOVS has gone fromstrength to strength.Farewell and thanksThe journal could not have achieved itsgrowth without the participation of manypeople overseeing the progress of over 9,000manuscripts during the last 5 years; notably myassociate editors, David Beebe, PhD, FARVO(Washington University in St. Louis), StanleyChang, MD (Columbia University), RezaDana, MD (Schepens Eye Research Institute),Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD, FARVO (KyotoPrefectual University of Medicine), ElkeLütjen-Drecoll, MD (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg), Stephen C. Pflugfelder, MD(Baylor College of Medicine), Joseph F. Rizzo,MD (Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary),Russell N. Van Gelder, MD, PhD (Universityof Washington), Martin B. Wax, MD(University of Texas Southwestern MedicalSchool) and Thomas Yorio, PhD (Universityof North Texas Health Science Center).In addition, nearly 80 editorial boardmembers orchestrated the review cycle,leading the reviewers that are crucial to eachmanuscript. The journal has averaged about2,000 reviewers per year over the past fiveyears. The EBMs made the tough calls andrecommendations, and kept the journal steadyand moving forward, voluntarily carrying avery heavy load for us in addition to theirother responsibilities. Without their effortswe would have stalled cold. I am grateful forall that they have done for IOVS and for ourresearch community. nPaul KaufmanFormer Editor-in-ChiefKaufman is currently Professor of Ophthalmologyand Visual Sciences and Director of GlaucomaServices at the University of Wisconsin MedicalSchool, Hospital and Clinics, in Madison, Wisc.22 ARVONews Spring 2013

JournalsIntroducing Dennis LeviIn 2000, Andrew (Beau) Watson, PhD, proposedto ARVO the creation of an entirelynew kind of journal: open access, online anddigital. The ARVO Board of Trustees approvedthe concept and made Watson editor-in-chief.He launched the Journal of Vision, acceptingmanuscript submissions in January 2001 andpublishing the first article in May.He convinced a stellar group of vision scientiststo join the editorial board. He designedthe look and the user interface for the journaland tirelessly promoted it to his colleagues inpresentations at scientific meetings. This wasall new technology then, and, internally, theremust have been countless unexpected issues toresolve, but this was invisible to users of thejournal. We all found it lively and seamless. In2003, to improve the quality and reduce costs,Watson brought production inhouse. Withhindsight, this was a wise and brave decision.To further offset the costs to ARVO, Watsonbrought in over $100,000 in funding from extramuralsources.The journal, now 12 years old, is a resoundingsuccess. It is growing rapidly in submissions,published papers and online usage. The journalnow receives, on average, one to two submissionsper day and publishes an article everyone to two days. And it lives up to the onlineaspiration, with approximately 2,000 internetsessions per day – many of them now on mobiledevices (like iPads) that didn’t even exist in2001. JOV has an Impact Factor of 3.376, rankingit high among vision science journals andjust about neck-and-neck with IOVS.It is an honor and a privilege to serve as thesecond editor-in-chief of Journal of Vision. I havea long, rich and varied involvement with thejournal. I was a member of the ARVO LongRange Planning Committee that supportedthe proposal to start the new electronic journalin 2000. I served on the ARVO PublicationsCommittee (2002 – 2003) and on the JOVsubcommittee that developed and approved thejournal’s financial plan. I served on the foundingeditorial board, published 21 papers, servedas a referee on multiple occasions, and I amhonored to have been listed in the top 10 mostcited authors in the JOV index (announcementApril 2010).I’m a huge fan of JOV, in part because it isopen access and always freely available, andbecause it is an innovative model for onlinepublishing and provides some article-levelmetrics. JOV has a distinguished internationaleditorial board, and the published product ishigh quality and esthetically pleasing.A recent innovation has been the additionof a new section of the journal: Methods.The increasingly technical nature of visionscience, the need for an open-access venuefor description of substantial new technicaldevelopments, and the unique capabilities ofJournal of Vision for publication of code anddemonstrations, has convinced us of the valueof publishing methods reports. We believe thatthe addition of Methods willincrease the significancejournalofof the journal as a criticalpublication venue in visionscience.Starting in January, JOVwill have four associateeditors who, in additionto the editor-in-chief, will receive manuscriptsdirectly and either distribute them to editorialboard members or handle them themselves. Weanticipate that this structure will help ensure thatmanuscripts are handled efficiently by editorialboard members with the appropriate expertise.The JOV editorial board is a “working” board inwhich members act as action editors, assigningreviewers and making the editorial decisions. nDennis LeviEditor-in-ChiefLevi is professor of optometry and vision science,and dean of the School of Optometry at theUniversity of California, Berkeley. He is a foundingmember of the JOV editorial board and formerIOVS editorial board member.Dennis Levi, OD, PhDVISIONj o u r n a l o f v i s i o n . o r garvo.org 23