An ophthalmologist and researcher at Oregon Health & Science University Casey Eye Institute is being honored for co-inventing the widely-used eye imaging technology known as optical coherence tomography, or OCT. David Huang, M.D., Ph.D. is among 13 scientists to receive the Visionary Prize from the Sanford and Susan Greenberg Prize to End Blindness. The winners will share $3 million in prizes for their scientific and medical contributions to ending blindness.
Huang, a professor of ophthalmology in the OHSU School of Medicine and an associate director of the OHSU Casey Eye Institute, has been widely recognized for his co-invention of OCT. In 2012, he was honored with an António Champalimaud Vision Award, known as the largest scientific and humanitarian prize in the field of vision research.
The technology is now used to diagnose macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and helps physicians decide how to best treat patients with blindness-causing disease. This technology is also increasingly used to evaluate treatments for multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
“I am inspired by Dr. Sanford Greenberg’s vision to end blindness and humbled to be recognized along with Prof. Jim Fujimoto and Eric Swanson for the development of optical coherence tomography, a very sensitive imaging technology widely used to detect and diagnose eye diseases,” Huang said of his most recent honor. “At the Casey Eye Institute, we are continuing to work on ending all preventable blindness by advancing diagnostic technologies, broadening community outreach, and providing cutting edge treatments.”
More information is available in the Greenberg Prize news release, as well as in a recent story in National Geographic.
News source: news.ohsu.edu/2020/12/04/ohsu-physician-honored-for-co-invention-of-eye-imaging-technology
Source: Oregon Health & Science University