WVU Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine hosting WV Vision Summit at Erickson Alumni Center

The West Virginia University Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine will host the 2026 WV Vision Summit on Friday, Sept. 18, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. At the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown. The event will focus on advancements in research from WVU vision research faculty.

The morning session, titled “Discovery and Innovation,” will begin with a pair of research symposiums. The first is led by vision research faculty members Saravanan Kolandaivelu, PhD, Michael Robichaux, PhD, and Ezequiel Salido, MD, PhD. The second symposium is led by vision research faculty Wen Tao Deng, PhD, Peter Stoilov, PhD, and Visvanathan Ramamuthy, PhD.

The morning session will conclude with a keynote address from Angela Bowman, PhD, the director of scientific research for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Her presentation is titled “Driven by Science: How the Foundation Fighting Blindness Shapes Progress in Blinding Retinal Diseases.”

The afternoon session, titled “Vision Health in WV,” will feature a presentation focused on recent rural health updates in West Virginia from Assistant Professor Joel Palko, MD, and a second presentation focused on recent outreach updates by Miriam Beall, academic specialist for the Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program at the WVU Eye Institute.

The afternoon session will conclude with a statewide panel discussion, followed by a reception and poster session where attendees can review and observe faculty research posters. See the full itinerary for the event below:

Morning Session: Discovery and Innovation

7:30 am: REGISTRATION / BREAKFAST

8:00 am: Opening Remarks - Dr. Mauger

8:10 am: Introductions - Dr. Ramamurthy

8:20 am: Research Symposium #1

• Dr. Kolandaivelu
• Dr. Robichaux
• Dr. Salido

9:20 am: BREAK

9:30 am: Research Symposium #2

• Dr. Deng
• Dr. Stoilov
• Dr. Ramamurthy

10:30 am: Clinical Research Highlights

11:15 am: Keynote Speaker Introduction

11:20 am: Keynote Address: Driven by Science: How the Foundation Fighting Blindness Shapes Progress in Blinding Retinal Diseases - Dr. Angela Bowman, Foundation Fighting Blindness

11:50 am: Keynote Address Discussion / Panel

12:00 pm: LUNCH / INFORMAL POSTER VIEWING

Afternoon Session: Vision Health in WV

1:00 pm: Grounding Talk – Rural Health in WV Updates

1:15 pm: Grounding Talk – Outreach Updates

1:30 pm: Statewide Panel Discussion

2:15 pm: BREAK

2:30 pm: Top Abstracts Session

3:30 pm: Closing Remarks

3:35 pm: Reception / Poster Session

5:00 pm: Adjourn

To RSVP for this event, contact the WVU Eye Institute Admin Line at 304-598-6925 by Thursday, September 17.