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An Evening of BrightFocus

Thursday, June 9, 2022
National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC
Washington, D.C.

Mind Sight Cure 2022 Gala graphic.
A group photo featuring presenting cocktail scientists during the 2022 BrightFocus Gala.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022
Time: 6:30 – 10:00 pm
Location: National Portrait Gallery, Washington DC

Honorees

We honored excellence in research science and advocacy with the presentation of three awards:

A headshot of Dr. Holtzman

David M. Holtzman, MD

Barbara Burton & Reuben M. Morriss III
Distinguished Professor

Scientific Director, Hope Center for
Neurological Disorders

Dept. of Neurology, Washington University
School of Medicine

BrightFocus Scientific Impact Award

Ilyas Washington, PhD

Ilyas Washington, PhD

Co-Founder, biOOrg3.14 LLC
Co-Founder, Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research

Sheila West, PhD, PharmD

Sheila West, PhD, PharmD

El Maghraby Professor
Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology
Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University

Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research

Special Guests

Eric McCormack on stage singing into a microphone.

Eric McCormack

Best known as Will Truman on NBC’s Will & Grace, Eric McCormack has been nominated for multiple awards, and won the Emmy for Lead Actor in a Comedy in 2001. The recipient of a star on both Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, McCormack has played lead roles in dozens of films and TV series, including three seasons of Netflix hit, Travelers, where he also served as a director and producer. Additionally, McCormack starred in Trust Me and three seasons of the crime thriller, Perception on TNT.

Eric made his Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated 2001 production of The Music Man. He also starred in the Tony-nominated production of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, as well as Neil LaBute’s off-Broadway play Some Girl(s) opposite Fran Drescher and Maura Tierney.

Eric and his wife, Janet, are active supporters of numerous charitable organizations including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Rape Foundation, and the ASPCA.

John Lewis on stage at the 2022 BrightFocus gala.

John Lewis, The Fitness Guru

John has over 25 years of experience in Speed and Agility Training and Extreme Workouts. John founded Energy Fitness in Atlanta, GA in 2003. Energy Fitness has continued to expand and grow thru John’s training, Speed and Agility Camps, Pool Workouts, Dance Classes, community involvement and leadership. His work ethic and dedication to training youth, adolescents, adults, and seniors continue to speak for themselves.

Presenting Cocktail Scientists

Alireza Faridar, MD

Alireza Faridar, MD

Houston Methodist Hospital (Houston, TX)

Targeting Adaptive Immune System in Alzheimer’s Disease

Kimberly Gokoffski, MD, PhD

Kimberly Gokoffski, MD, PhD

University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute (Los Angeles, CA)

Electric Fields Direct Full Length Optic Nerve Regeneration and Partial Restoration of Visual Function

Joelle Hallak, PhD

Joelle Hallak, PhD

University of Illinois College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology (Chicago, IL)

Personalized Medicine for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Headshot of Ksenia Kastanenka, PhD.

Ksenia Kastanenka, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School (Charlestown, MA)

How Non-neuronal Cells Contribute to Alzheimer’s Disease

Jason Meyer, PhD

Jason Meyer, PhD

Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN)

How to Build a Retina in a Dish: Developing a Human Stem Cell Model for Studies of Glaucoma

Ye Sun, MD, PhD

Ye Sun, MD, PhD

Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital (Boston, MA)

Targeting an Immune Regulator for Treatment of Wet AMD

Documentary Sneak Preview

WILDER is a whimsical, touching, powerful new documentary that celebrates the life and career of Gene Wilder, the award-winning actor, comedian, director and producer, and his heroic journey through life’s ups and downs.

Wilder movie teaser poster.

Sponsors

Thank you to the generous sponsors of our 7th Annual Evening of BrightFocus.

Cure Sponsors

Eisai logo
Eli Lilly logo
RKD logo
UsAgainstAlzheimers Logo

Effective Treatment Sponsor

Allegiance Group logo.
Biogen blue logo
Gates Ventures Logo
Rainwater Charitable Foundation logo
Alliance for Aging Research logo.

FDA Approval Sponsor

Sandy Spring Bank logo

Scientific Breakthroughs Sponsors

AgeWave Logo
Apellis black and red logo
Nuix Logo.
PCH Films Color Logo.
PhRMA logo.
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine wordmark.