Upstate’s Center for Vision Research (CVR) is currently the 28th ophthalmology department in the country for NIH funding, according to the latest ranking from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. Over the past decade, the CVR has risen the ranks to be SUNY’s top ophthalmology department, taking its place among the top vision research institutions in the US. 

“To rank in the top third of ophthalmology departments is quite amazing," says the CVR’s director William Brunken, PhD, FARVO. “That growth is really the result of our hiring new young, energetic faculty who have attracted a lot of dollars and a lot of grants and staff.” 

That energy is echoed throughout the faculty, students, and staff who are researching everything from glaucoma, retinal regeneration, to uses for AI in understanding vision diseases. William Spencer, PhD, is one of these new hires who has built a vibrant laboratory in the CVR, studying how vision works at a molecular level. To him, the size and structure are key to the CVR’s growth and success. 

“We’re the right size that makes collaboration across labs and departments much easier,” he says. “We’re engrossed in what we’re doing and can also be involved in what other researchers are doing.”  This has led to his current lab members choosing to come to the CVR. 

“Something that I was interested in was the access to different lab techniques, opportunities to learn different methods of research,” says PhD candidate David Ball. In Spencer’s lab, he’s had the opportunity to work across departments, learning different microscopy techniques, utilizing animal models, cell cultures, and more. 

“There are many renowned people in the field under one roof here, and they are super accessible whenever you need them,” adds PhD candidate Srijan Bhattacharya. 

“We have this very collegial vibe,” explains Spencer, a sentiment felt by his lab members.  

“When I was looking for labs, the first thing [Spencer] did was introduce me to other lab members, and other labs they work with,” says undergraduate Syracuse University student Rahul Shah. “They highlighted their collaboration; that’s one of the reasons I chose this lab.” 

“We’re a community,” emphasizes Spencer. 

Brunken hopes to build on their success; using this new national ranking as not only a signifier that their strategy of innovation is working, but as a way to continue this momentum. 

“The big advantage for this kind of ranking is as potential students look at the rankings, it will say to them this is an attractive, well-funded environment,” he says. 

Brunken continues, “It's also important for is for funding agencies; when a study section is reviewing any of our grants, the ranking and the environment that we can present is a critical part of the funding process. We now clearly have one of the best in the country.” 

For the full rankings from Blue Ridge Institute, you can visit their website- 

https://brimr.org/brimr-rankings-of-nih-funding-in-2024/ 

You can learn more about Upstate’s Center for Vision Research here- 

https://www.upstate.edu/cvr/