Executive Director Update – May 2026

Dear Partners, Researchers, Patients, and Members of the Vision Community,

As we move through a pivotal year for vision research advocacy, we want to sincerely thank you for your continued partnership, engagement, and support following an incredibly impactful Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting.

This year’s ARVO meeting reinforced both the extraordinary strength of the vision research community and the urgency of the current federal funding and policy landscape. Conversations throughout the week centered on the future of the NEI, NIH funding stability, forward funding concerns, indirect cost proposals, and the growing importance of unified, strategic advocacy to ensure vision research remains a national priority.

We were also proud to formally introduce our new unified identity as Alliance for Vision Research alongside our newly launched website and refreshed advocacy platform. This evolution represents far more than a rebrand — it is a strategic effort to strengthen our collective voice, increase visibility, and more effectively position the vision community at the forefront of federal advocacy, policy engagement, and public awareness efforts.

As the FY27 appropriations process continues to unfold, the environment remains increasingly challenging and uncertain. Discussions surrounding NIH restructuring, proposed indirect cost caps, expanded forward funding, and broader federal spending priorities all have the potential to significantly impact the future of vision research. In this moment, sustained advocacy, coordinated communication, and strong community engagement are more important than ever.

Securing robust NEI funding and protecting the broader vision research ecosystem will require meaningful and continued financial support from partners across the community. Your support directly enables our federal advocacy efforts, congressional outreach, coalition-building initiatives, communications campaigns, policy engagement, and educational programming designed to elevate vision research at the national level.

Through the ongoing #SeeWhatMatters campaign, we continue working to ensure policymakers and the public understand not only the scientific advancements made possible through vision research, but also the profound real-world impact these discoveries have on patients, families, military personnel, and communities across the country.

We are also pleased to share that recruitment is now underway for the 2026 Emerging Vision Scientist Program, which remains a cornerstone of our efforts to prepare the next generation of scientist-advocates. We encourage you to share this opportunity broadly within your institutions and networks.

In addition, we continue to build on the success of our congressional briefing series, which plays a critical role in connecting policymakers directly with the science, patient experiences, and public health impact of vision research. Upcoming 2026 briefings include:

• Inherited Retinal Diseases (June)
• Dry Eye (July)
• Myopia (September)
• Diabetic Eye Disease (November)

These engagements remain essential opportunities to elevate vision research on Capitol Hill and reinforce why sustained federal investment in sight-saving science matters.

As we look ahead, our mission remains clear: protect NEI independence, strengthen federal investment in vision research, restore and expand critical programs such as the Department of Defense Vision Research Program, and ensure policymakers understand the life-changing impact of vision science.

This is a defining moment for our field. The progress we make and the challenges we overcome will depend on the collective strength, engagement, advocacy, and support of researchers, clinicians, patients, industry leaders, organizations, and partners across the entire vision community. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and continued commitment as we work together to ensure vision research remains visible, valued, and prioritized at the national level.

Sincerely,

Dan Ignaszewski
Executive Director
Alliance for Vision Research