The 6th Annual Vision Research Workshop is a trainee run symposium of poster and papers from throughout the Medical School, Wayne State University, Henry Ford Hospital and Oakland University.

It highlights the research accomplishments of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research assistants/associates, residents, clinical fellows and medical students.

This activity has been approved for 3 CME Credits

Robert N. Frank Clinical Translational Lecture featuring: Jeff Gross, Ph.D.

“Modeling Ophthalmic Diseases and Developing Vision Restoration Strategies Using Zebrafish”

Jeff Gross, Ph.D received his B.S. in Biology in 1996 from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2002 from Duke University. For his postdoctoral training, Dr. Gross worked from 2002 – 2005 with Dr. John Dowling at Harvard University, and collaborated extensively with Dr. Nancy Hopkins at MIT.

In 2005, Dr. Gross started his independent laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Gross was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2011, and to Full Professor in 2015. In 2012, Dr. Gross was appointed Associate Director of the Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology. Dr. Gross was recruited to the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in August 2015, where he is appointed as the E. Ronald Salvitti Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of the Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration and Vice Chair and Director of Research.

Dr. Gross’ research utilizes the zebrafish as a model system to identify fundamental processes required for ocular development, the mechanisms underlying ocular disorders and the mechanisms underlying regeneration. Dr. Gross’ research program has been supported through grants from the NIH, NSF and grants from numerous private foundations. Dr. Gross is a passionate teacher having developed several undergraduate and graduate courses while at the University of Texas at Austin, and having mentored over 50 postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate students, nearly all of whom remain active in science.