Shared Research Resource Will Advance Study of Age-Related Neurological & Visual Disorders
New York, NY — SUNY College of Optometry announced today that it has been awarded $1.5 million through the first phase of the SUNY Brain Institute to establish the SUNY Eye Biobank, a first-in-the-nation shared research resource designed to advance the study of age-related neurological and visual disorders.
The SUNY Eye Biobank will be a resource to support research into the relationship between the eye, the brain, and age-related disease. Because the retina and other ocular structures provide a direct, noninvasive view of neural tissue, blood vessels and other biological systems, eye-based data can help researchers better understand changes associated with both visual and neurological health.
“This award recognizes SUNY Optometry’s distinctive role in advancing vision science and its connection to broader questions of brain health, aging, and disease,” said Dr. David Troilo, President of SUNY College of Optometry. “The SUNY Eye Biobank will allow us to build on the College’s deep expertise in retinal imaging, clinical care, and vision research to support discoveries that could improve how we understand age-related neurological and visual disorders. We are grateful to Governor Hochul, Chancellor King and SUNY System Administration for investing in research that can improve lives and strengthen collaboration across the SUNY system.”
The award names SUNY Optometry as a node within the SUNY Brain Institute Module I: Age-Related Brain Disorders, a statewide, federated neuroscience research network focused on expanding scientific collaboration and research infrastructure across the State University of New York system. The SUNY Optometry node will be led by Jose-Manuel Alonso, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Biological and Vision Sciences who is joined by fellow investigators Stewart Bloomfield, PhD, Vice President for Research, and Mitchell W. Dul, OD, Professor of Biologic and Vision Science.
“The eye offers a unique window into the brain and the body,” said Dr. Alonso. “By establishing the SUNY Eye Biobank, we can create a shared resource that brings together clinical data, imaging, and biological information to help researchers investigate the links between vision, aging, and neurological disease. This work supports collaborations that can move the field toward earlier detection, better understanding of disease mechanisms and more personalized approaches to care.”
The SUNY Brain Institute is a multi-campus initiative designed to bring together complementary infrastructure, scientific expertise and research capabilities to accelerate discovery, advance technological innovation, and improve health outcomes. Its inaugural module focuses on age-related brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, neuroinflammation, cognitive decline and other conditions affecting older adults.
The award builds on SUNY Optometry’s growing leadership in oculomics, an emerging field that uses eye-based biomarkers, cell and gene expression, imaging and data analysis to study broader human health. Earlier this year, SUNY Optometry received $434,522 through the SUNY Empire Innovation Program to support the expansion of oculomics research and the recruitment of a new SUNY Professor of Empire Innovation with expertise in AI, deep learning, and predictive analytics.
Together, the two awards strengthen SUNY Optometry’s capacity to advance research at the intersection of vision science, neuroscience, clinical care, and data-driven discovery. The College’s research enterprise includes the Graduate Center for Vision Research, the Schnurmacher Institute for Vision Research, and the Clinical Vision Research Center.
The SUNY Brain Institute award period runs from September 1, 2026 through August 30, 2029.
Research/work reported in this press release was supported in part by SUNY System Administration under the award titled SUNY Brain Institute Module I: Age-Related Brain Disorders.
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State University of New York College of Optometry
Founded in 1971 in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry (SUNY Optometry) is the only school of optometry in the state and a nationally recognized leader in optometric education, vision research, and patient care. The College prepares the next generation of eye care professionals through its Doctor of Optometry program, residency programs, and advanced graduate degrees in vision science, including MS and PhD programs. As an academic health center in optometry dedicated to advancing eye and vision care, SUNY Optometry conducts a robust portfolio of basic, translational, and clinical research focused on improving diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of visual disorders.
Clinical training and patient care are anchored by the University Eye Center, one of the largest outpatient vision care facilities in the region, which serves a diverse patient population and provides students with hands-on experience alongside expert clinicians. SUNY Optometry also maintains more than 65 affiliated clinical training sites across the country. Beginning in Fall 2027, the Doctor of Optometry degree will be offered in both New York City and Syracuse, providing students the opportunity to choose where they live and practice.