Emerging Innovators in Ophthalmology Workshop

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This proposal seeks to fund and support trainees and junior faculty to attend the “Emerging Innovators in Ophthalmology Workshop” which will occur July 2026 at Stanford University with plans to make this a regular annual offering. Continued innovation in treatment, diagnosis and prevention of ophthalmic disease is critical for improving patient outcomes and reducing gaps in population health. Increasingly we recognize that innovation requires specific training and mentorship which is not broadly available. A specialized approach to evaluating clinical problems and creatively identify solutions has become codified and widely recognized around the world as the “Biodesign” approach upon which both the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign Fellowship and, subsequently, the Stanford Byers Family Ophthalmic Innovation Fellowship Program are based. The “Emerging Innovators in Ophthalmology Workshop” will be an all-day course convened on Stanford campus to provide the framework of this approach and resources which attendees can use to further engage in the Biodesign process. Recognizing the importance of mentorship, senior faculty who both teach and engage in innovation will be present throughout the course and small group workshops to develop connections with the attendees. Additionally, each attendee will be connected with a formal innovation mentor based on their interest at the conclusion of the workshop with the expectation of regular meetings in the following year. Our objectives for the course are: (1) to teach the core principles of the Biodesign approach with a focus on Ophthalmic Innovation to ophthalmology residents, post-doctoral scholars, and junior faculty in hopes for encouraging innovation and (2) to provide and develop long term mentorship for clinical and scientific trainees as well as junior faculty in support of ongoing innovative work.