McPherson Eye Research Institute

02/20/2026

Due Next Week! We are accepting applications for this year's Walsh Graduate Student Support Initiative! These $12K awards provide support to a UW-Madison graduate student training in a McPherson ERI member’s lab. Application deadline: Feb. 27th.

Apply here: https://vision.wisc.edu/funding_opportunities/gssi/

02/17/2026

Join us for our March 10th McPherson ERI Seminar Series! The lectures will be held in WIMR 3571 from 12-1 pm. A pizza lunch will be provided. RSVP and directions to the venue available here: https://vision.wisc.edu/current-seminar-series/

02/13/2026

Final Reminder: The application period for the MERI-sponsored Sophomore Research Fellowship is closing soon! This award provides research training and support to UW-Madison sophomore undergraduates, allowing them to undertake their own vision research project in collaboration with faculty or research staff. Applications are due by February 22nd. Read more and apply here: https://vision.wisc.edu/funding_opportunities/sophomore-research-fellowship/

02/11/2026

🎉 Big congratulations to Prof. Donna Neumann, MERI member and recipient of a 5-year NIH R01 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases!

Her research explores how herpes simplex virus type 1 reactivates in neurons and spreads back to the eye—work that could pave the way for new treatments to prevent infection, transmission, and vision loss.

This exciting project grew out of early support from our Grant Summit Program, and we’re thrilled to see it reach this milestone!

02/06/2026

Join Cycle for Sight 2026 and help support vision research at UW-Madison’s McPherson Eye Research Institute! Sign up here: https://give.wiscmedicine.org/event/cycle-for-sight-2026/e735533

Have you ever thought about how your eyes move? Dr. Herzfeld's research on how neural circuits work together to control eye movement is beginning to uncover the fundamental rules of motor learning; insights that may one day help speed up recovery after strokes. Read the full article here:https://vision.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/233/2026/01/MERI-Research-Eye-Movement-and-the-Brain.pdf

Cycle for Sight supports researchers who work to prevent, treat and cure blinding diseases at the McPherson Eye Research Institute at UW-Madison. Kickoff is on 3/14 at Princeton Club West. For more info, go to https://give.wiscmedicine.org/cycleforsight2026.

02/06/2026

FINAL DAY to RSVP for MERI-at-a-Glance, an event showcasing the diverse vision research being undertaken by our members. This year, 5 presenters will be delivering short talks on their vision-related research. RSVP here by TODAY to attend! https://vision.wisc.edu/meri-at-a-glance/

02/06/2026

Final Call for applications for the Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowship! These awards support undergrad research done in collaboration with faculty or research staff during the 2026-2027 academic year. Apply or read more here: https://vision.wisc.edu/funding_opportunities/hilldale-undergraduate-fellowships/

02/05/2026

Reminder: Applications for this year's Walsh Graduate Student Support Initiative opportunity are due in 3 weeks! These $12K awards provide support to a UW-Madison graduate student training in a McPherson ERI member’s lab. Application deadline: Feb. 27th.

Apply here: https://vision.wisc.edu/funding_opportunities/gssi/

02/02/2026

MERI member Jonathan Soucy (Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering) will be giving his talk titled "Engineering the Retinal Microenvironment to Enable Retinal Ganglion Cell Transplantation" at the John D. Wiley Conference Center in Waisman this Friday at 12 pm. All are welcome to attend! See flyer for more details.

01/30/2026

Final reminder to apply for a Spring 2026 Walsh Research Travel Award! Submit your application by Friday, February 6th to be considered for one of these $1500 awards. Visit here for more information and to apply: https://vision.wisc.edu/funding_opportunities/david-walsh-travel-awards/

01/30/2026

Reminder: RSVP by Feb. 6th to attend MERI-at-a-Glance, our annual luncheon featuring a series of short research talks by McPherson ERI members! This year, 5 presenters will be delivering short talks on their vision-related research. More information and rsvp link here: https://vision.wisc.edu/meri-at-a-glance/

01/29/2026

Join us Tuesday, February 3rd at 10:00 AM (Zoom) for a special Vision Research Update seminar hosted by the Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

Andrew Miller, PhD — McPherson ERI member and Sinha Lab postdoc (Dept. of Neuroscience) — will present his talk: “Retinal circuit specializations for encoding central vision.”

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about Dr. Miller’s exciting research!

🔗 More details and Zoom link: https://today.wisc.edu/events/view/218489