Presenter Biography

Eliot Berson, M.D.

Director of Harvard’s Berman-Gund Laboratory
for the Study of Retinal Degenerations
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Eliot L. Berson, M.D., is the William F. Chatlos Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and director of Harvard's Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. A graduate of Phillips Andover, Yale and Harvard Medical School, he is the author of more than 200 papers on hereditary retinal degenerations with a particular emphasis on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and allied night-blinding disorders. Dr. Berson and his colleagues are responsible for developing the first treatment regimen for adults with RP - namely, vitamin A palmitate 15,000 IU/day, lutein supplementation 12 mg/day and one to two 3-ounce weekly servings of oily fish, of which DHA is a major constituent. His team was also responsible for the initial discovery of several gene mutations responsible for RP and for the development and treatment of laboratory models of this condition. Dr. Berson continues research aimed at further slowing the rate of progression of retinitis pigmentosa and defining the causes of these diseases through molecular genetic analyses.

Meet our other presenters:

Keynote Speaker

• Michael Hingson, The Michael Hingson Group, Inc.

Presenters

• Isabelle Audo, M.D., PH.D., Quinze-Vingts Hospital
• Benjamin Bakall, Ph.D., University of Iowa
• William Beltran, D.V.M., Ph.D., School of Veterinary Medicine
• Eliot Berson, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• Kathy Blake
• Shannon Boye, University of Florida
• Rusty Bromley, Translational Research Acceleration via Consulting
• Tiffany Chan, O.D., Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University
• Charlie Collins, Vision Dynamics, LLC
• Stephen Daiger, University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston
• Arlene Drack
• Jacque L. Duncan, M.D., University of California, San Francisco
• Timothy Elder, TRE Legal Practice, LLC
• Gerald Fishman, M.D., The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired
• David M. Gamm, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Duane R. Geruschat, Ph.D., Salus University
• Douglas Goist, National Industries for the Blind
• Michael Grassi
• James T. Handa, M.D., Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University
• Rod Haneline, Leader Dogs for the Blind
• Brian Hurley, National Industries for the Blind
• Christine Kay, M.D., University of Florida
• Mark E. Kleinman, M.D.
• Craig MacFarlane, Edward Jones Company
• Toni March, Office of Blindness and Vision Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
• Michel Michaelides
• Muna Naash
• Mark Pennesi, M.D., Ph.D., Casey Eye Institute
• Darlene Peregoy, Office for Blindness and Vision Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services
• Eric Pierce, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
• Dan Roberts, Macular Degeneration Support
• José-Alain Sahel, M.D.
• Philip Saunders
• Hendrik Scholl
• Everett T. Shupe II, MBA, CAE, CMP, Shupe Plans
• Janet Sunness, M.D., Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services, Greater Baltimore Medical Center
• Karmen M Trzupek, MS, CGC, Informed Medical Decisions, Inc.
• Dawn E. Turco, Hadley School for the Blind
• Lou Tutt, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Luk H. Vandenberghe, Ph.D., HMassachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School
• Douglas Walker, Hadley School for the Blind
• Richard G. Weleber, M.D., Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health and Science University
• Dan Wenzel, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland
• Kim Walker, Tennessee School for the Blind
• Sandy White, Blind Sports Organization
• Paul Yang, M.D., Ph.D., University of Utah
• Donald Zack
• Michael Zuber