Cohen Announces $375K for UTHSC

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today announced that the National Eye Institute (NEI), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded a grant worth $375, 000 to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) for vision research.  Specifically, the research will focus on development of new blood vessels for the retina.

“UTHSC is well known for its accomplishments in medical research,” said Congressman Cohen.  “With such a generous grant from NEI, UTHSC can continue to set the standard in eye research.  According to the American Foundation for the Blind, nearly 200,000 Tennesseans suffer from vision loss.  Knowing this, I cannot think of a more worthy recipient of a vision research grant.” 

The primary objective of Core Grants for Vision Research is to provide groups of investigators who have achieved independent NEI funding with additional, shared support to enhance their own and their institution’s capability for conducting vision research. Secondary objectives of this program include facilitating collaborative studies and attracting other scientists to conduct research on the visual system.

NEI, the first government organization solely dedicated to research on human visual diseases and disorders, was established by Congress in 1968.  NEI research has lead to sight saving treatments, reducing visual impairment and blindness, thus improving the quality of life for people of all ages.

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