Meet the 2022 BI, CL and VN Trustee candidates
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (BI) Trustee candidates
Luminita Paraoan, PhD, FARVO
I provide my strongest support for the nomination of Dr. Luminita Paraoan for the Board of Trustees — Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Section. Luminita is an internationally highly respected scientist with significant experience in leadership in educational, charitable and health organisations. Biochemist by training, Luminita focused her research on eye and vision science early on in her career and as such, she founded and led the Ocular Molecular Biology and Mechanisms of Disease Group in the Department of Eye and Vision Science at the University of Liverpool, U.K. since 2001. She has developed the group’s high-quality fundamental science research by studying physiological processes of the RPE/choroid in health and disease, specifically applied to AMD and uveal melanoma. Her extensive collaborative network of research partnerships spans Europe, Asia and the U.S.
With over 25 years of continuous membership, Luminita has a longstanding commitment and service to ARVO, recognised with her award as a Gold Fellow in 2021. Luminita has been involved in ARVO’s governance and numerous initiatives, most recently serving on the AMPC and chairing the BI section (2016-19), on the Publication Committee, and Grants Publication sub-committee (2014-17), and various mentoring activities (Strategic Plan Global Pillar International Mentorship Working Group/Program, Developing Country Eye Researcher Travel Fellowship Program).
Luminita is a dedicated mentor and a champion of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) values. She has a history of support and development for over 40 national/international students, postdoctoral researchers, and fellows, chaired the first EDI committee in her home University and served in the Biochemical Society’s EDI Advisory Panel.
With her record of accomplishment in leadership, including elected vice-president of ISER and recognition in the 2021 Power List of Top 100 Women in Ophthalmology, broad experience, and committed service to top professional organisations in both eye/vision science (ARVO, ISER, Macular Society) and biochemistry (Biochemical Society), Dr. Luminita Paraoan brings insights that will strongly support and enhance the work of the BI Section and the global ARVO community.
Nominated by:
Deborah Ferrington, PhD
Distinguished McKnight University Professor
Elaine and Robert Larson Endowed Vision Research Chair
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences
University of Minnesota
Terri Young, MD, PhD, FARVO
It is my honor to nominate Terri L. Young, MD, MBA (Gold FARVO member), to serve as the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BI) Section Trustee of ARVO. Dr. Young is the Peter A. Duehr Professor and Chairwoman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, with secondary appointments in the departments of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics. She is a world-recognized clinician-scientist and contributor in the fields of ophthalmic genetics and genomics, especially in the areas of refractive error, eye development and childhood glaucoma.
She has a broad, substantial service record for multiple editorial boards, grant review committees for foundations and NIH/NEI study sections, as well as national and international advisory boards. She recently served as a permanent member of the NEI Diseases and Pathophysiology of the Visual System Study Section, and the NEI Board of Scientific Counselors. She has served on and led multiple ARVO committees as chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, member of the Professional Education Committee, chair of WEAVR, and multi-year service on both the Cross-Sectional Program Genetics and the BI section Program Committees. Dr. Young has served annually as a mentor for the ARVO Developing Country Eye Researcher Travel Fellowship since its inception.
She is currently serving as a Trustee on the ARVO Foundation Board, and was invited by ARVO leadership to develop ARVO’s recent strategic plan and select its current Executive Vice President. She has an exemplary career developing local to international programs of genetic studies of ocular disorders, inclusion, mentoring and leadership. She is a strong advocate and longstanding participant of international research collaborations, and serves as a founding member on two international genome-wide association consortia.
She will be an excellent, committed and inspiring addition to the ARVO Trustee Board as our representative.
Nominated by:
Eric Pierce, MD, PhD, FARVO
Director, Ocular Genomics Institute
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Clinical/Epidemiologic Research (CL) Trustee candidates
Lisa Keay, PhD
I am writing to provide my strongest support for Dr. Lisa Keay’s nomination for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Clinical and Epidemiologic Research (CL) Trustee.
Dr. Keay is an international leader in ophthalmic epidemiology, and eye health and injury prevention research. Her research linking vision to falls and driver safety and studying contact lens complications have remained leading sources of evidence in these areas for almost a decade, underscoring her long-lasting global impact. She has over 200 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial boards of Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Ophthalmic Physiological Optics and Asian-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
Through an approach that creates diverse and inclusive research environments, Dr. Keay has an outstanding track record of spearheading successful initiatives. As the head of the School of Optometry and Vision Science at UNSW Sydney, she leads over 60 staff members, dozens of trainees and had has secured over $12 million in research funding. Dr. Keay is a sought-after adviser to organizations both within Australia and around the world, including the World Health Organization, the Federal Drug Administration in the United States and she was a commissioner on the recent Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health.
Dr. Keay’s commitment to ARVO is clear. She has been an ARVO member since 1996 and served on the ARVO Annual Meeting Planning Committee (AMPC) for three years, including serving as chair of the CL Section of this Committee. This role of CL Trustee is an extension of her ARVO leadership and would leverage Dr. Keay’s experience, expertise, and networks to strengthen and support the CL Section.
In summary, I provide enthusiastic support for Dr. Keay’s nomination as an ARVO Clinical and Epidemiology (CL) Trustee. She is an ideal candidate for this role.
Nominated by:
Bonnielin K. Swenor, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
Director, Johns Hopkins Disability Health Research Center
The Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins University Center on Aging and Health
Tien Y. Wong, MBBS, MMED (Ophth), MPH, PhD, FRCSE, FRANZCO, FAMS, FSNAS, PPA
I am pleased to nominate Professor Tien Wong as an outstanding candidate for CL Trustee for 2022.
Tien is currently professor and medical director of the Singapore National Eye Center and Vice-Dean at Duke- NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore. Tien studied medicine at the National University of Singapore and completed his MPH and PhD in epidemiology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He also completed a Fellowship at the Dana Center of Preventive Ophthalmology and an American Diabetes Association Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin.
Tien is an outstanding physician-scientist who has made substantial scientific contributions in global epidemiology of visual impairment and eye diseases, particular diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and myopia. In particular, over nearly 20 years Tien’s research on the prevalence, trends and risk factors for eye diseases in Singapore has provided seminal data on eye diseases in Asia.
Tien has mentored many researchers over their careers and is a prolific researcher with >1300 papers, including papers in NEJM, Lancet and JAMA. He has a H-index of 168.
Tien has contributed to ARVO, including being CL Program Chair, and on the editorial board of IOVS. He has served on boards/council of the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) and Macula Society. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Alcon Research Institute Award, the Arnall Patz Medal from the Macula Society, the Eisenhower Fellowship and the Singapore President’s Science and Technology Prize. Tien is one of few elected foreign members of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM).
For his research contributions and his leadership abilities, I nominate Tien for CL Trustee and am certain ARVO and the CL Section will benefit greatly if he is selected. I endorse his candidacy with utmost confidence and enthusiasm.
Nominated by:
Sheila West, PhD, FARVO
El-Maghraby Professor of Preventive Ophthalmology
Director of the Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology
Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute
Visual Neuroscience (VN) Trustee candidate
*running unopposed
Wei Li, PhD, FARVO
It is my great pleasure to nominate Dr. Wei Li as trustee for the Visual Neuroscience Section of ARVO. Wei is well trained in visual neuroscience, having received his PhD for work he performed in Dr. Stephen Massey’s laboratory at UT Houston. He went on to receive his postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Steven DeVries at Northwestern University. After his excellent training, Wei joined the National Eye Institute (NEI). He is currently chief of retinal neurophysiology section at the NEI. Wei is a superb retinal neurophysiologist and imager. He has published high profile papers in the areas of retina synapses, retinal circuits, retinal development, retinal metabolism and disease. He is well versed and an expert in many of the areas of interest of the Visual Neuroscience Section of ARVO.
Wei has been a tireless advocate of ARVO and visual neuroscience. He has been a continuous member of ARVO since 1999. Wei has served on and led the Visual Neuroscience program committee. He is also a strong proponent of international participation and scientific exchange.
Wei is an outstanding nominee for trustee of the Visual Neuroscience Section of ARVO. He has demonstrated excellence in many of the areas of interest of the Visual Neuroscience. He is a strong and proven advocate of ARVO. He is also a solid ambassador for international participation and scientific exchange, having participated in many international symposia of visual neuroscience.
Wei has my strongest recommendation with no reservations. He will make a superb trustee of Visual Neuroscience.
Nominated by:
Peter Lukasiewicz, PhD, FARVO
Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Department
Washington University School of Medicine