This is SUPER!! Our Summer Undergraduate Program for Eye Research offers undergraduate students a chance to engage in hands-on research focused on eye diseases.
In addition to conducting experiments and generating real data, students participate in a specialized didactic course designed to deepen their understanding of the pathophysiology of eye diseases and the clinical challenges in ophthalmology.
Many of our participants are pre-medical students, while others pursue careers in optometry or graduate programs leading to a Ph.D.
This program plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of ophthalmologists, optometrists, and vision scientists, equipping them with the knowledge and research skills necessary to advance the field of vision science.
Learn more: prrf.org/research/
"A mission far greater than what any single surgeon can accomplish alone"
This is how Antonio Capone Jr MD describes his leadership at PRRF.
In the operating room, Dr. Capone works "like a jeweler, carefully restoring sight one eye of one child at a time."
But, he says "The real work often begins after surgery, when families navigate the daily challenges of follow-up care, low-vision therapies, and the emotional journey of raising a child with visual challenges."
"Through the Foundation, we embrace these families with the support they need and deserve. We strive to ensure that no parent feels alone in this journey, and that no child's potential is limited by a lack of resources or hope.
"When I consider that a child born today may live 100 years, I'm reminded that the work we do now—the research we fund, the awareness we build, the support systems we create—will compound over decades. Leading this foundation allows me to leverage my clinical experience in the service of a mission far greater than what any single surgeon can accomplish alone."
Thank you Dr. Capone for lighting the way forward with hope and the power of working together.
👀 A peek behind the scenes of the Pediatric Retinal Research Lab at Oakland University as part of the Eye Research Institute (funded by the PRRF, the Carls Foundation and Oakland University).
We raise money for innovative studies aimed at understanding and treating pediatric retinal disorders. The lab also supports research endeavors of undergraduate and medical students, fostering an excellent training of the next generation of vision scientists and physician-researchers.
Big smiles at our Family Connection Conference in April are a great reminder of how much community matters. Bringing together families and seeing their faces light up when they recognize their shared experience -- that's why we do what we do. Find out how you can volunteer or help us fundraise: prrf.org/
© 2025 Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation.
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