David Calkins

June 5, 2024

A novel astrocyte cell in the retina: study

A full understanding of retinal cell types and their functions could point to novel therapeutic targets for diseases that affect the visual system, such as glaucoma — a leading cause of blindness for people over age 60.

By Leigh MacMillan
September 8, 2022

Calkins lands national award for research on blinding eye diseases

Vanderbilt’s David Calkins, PhD, has been selected by the Research to Prevent Blindness and Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology to receive the 2023 David F. Weeks Award for Outstanding Vision Research.

By Nancy Humphrey
December 10, 2020

Calkins named Assistant VP for Research at VUMC

David Calkins, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Vision Research Center and vice chair and director for Research of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, has been appointed Assistant Vice President for Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

By Bill Snyder
July 20, 2020

Study points to potential new approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases like glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have shown for the first time that when one optic nerve in the eye is damaged, as in glaucoma, the opposite optic nerve comes to the rescue by sharing its metabolic energy.

By Bill Snyder
June 28, 2018

Calkins lands innovation award from Research to Prevent Blindness

Jun. 28, 2018—David Calkins, PhD, vice chair and director of Research at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, has been granted one of the preeminent awards in vision research — the Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Stein Innovation Award.

By Jessica Pasley
eye
February 22, 2018

Glaucoma study finds brain fights to preserve vision

A team of researchers, led by David Calkins, PhD, vice chair and director of Research at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, has made a breakthrough discovery in the field of glaucoma showing new hopes for treatments to preserve vision.

By Jessica Pasley
December 16, 2014

Retinal neuron survival in glaucoma

Understanding how the protein TRPV1 helps neurons survive after glaucoma-related stressors could lead to new therapeutic strategies for glaucoma and other neurodegenerative conditions.
By Leigh MacMillan
October 2, 2014

Regenerative visual neuroscience effort launched

Vanderbilt University has launched a regenerative visual neuroscience initiative to develop new ways of treating — and restoring sight to — people who have been blinded by glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and eye injuries.
By Bill Snyder
March 14, 2014

Protein boosts retinal neuron survival

An ion channel protein called TRIPV1 helps retinal neurons survive the elevated eye pressure associated with glaucoma.
By Leigh MacMillan
September 19, 2013

Team tracking new options to treat glaucoma

Three years ago, a team of researchers led by David Calkins, Ph.D., vice chair and director of Research at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, showed that the first sign of injury in glaucoma, the leading cause of blindness in the United States, occurs in the brain.
By Jessica Pasley
January 24, 2013

Calkins lands award from Research to Prevent Blindness

David Calkins, Ph.D., vice chair and director of Research for the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, was recently awarded a Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Senior Scientific Investigator Award.
By Jessica Pasley
October 4, 2012

Glaucoma research highlighted at VEI symposium

Vision experts from around the country recently gathered at the 2012 Vanderbilt Eye Institute symposium “Regenerative Medicine in Glaucoma” to discuss the impact that regenerative medicine has on neurobiological diseases.
By Jessica Pasley