The University of Iowa has announced that ophthalmologist Edwin Stone has earned election to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM), one of the field’s most prestigious honors.
Dr. Stone serves as a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the UI Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. He also directs the university’s Institute for Vision Research.
The academy elected 90 national members and 10 international members this year, expanding its total membership to more than 2,500. Current members select new inductees who have made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health.
UI officials praised Dr. Stone’s groundbreaking work in ophthalmic genetics, reiterating that election to NAM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Stone has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine,” Denise Jamieson, UI vice president for medical affairs and the Tyrone D. Artz Dean of the UI Carver College of Medicine, said. “This honor reflects the caliber of his work, which has had a transformative impact on the treatment of blinding eye diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma. Ed is one of the world’s most exceptional scholars and leaders, and this recognition by his peers is well-deserved.”
Dr. Stone’s research has advanced the field of ophthalmic genetics through several major discoveries. His work includes identifying and analyzing the first human glaucoma gene, discovering genes linked to macular degeneration and finding numerous genes associated with retinal diseases. He currently leads efforts to develop affordable, nonprofit genetic testing and therapies for degenerative retinal diseases.
“UI Health Care is regarded as (a) pioneer in genetic ophthalmology, and this reputation was largely established by Ed,” Keith Carter, chair and department executive officer of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UI Health Care, said in a release. “From the beginning, Ed had a strong interest in genetics, and he wanted everybody to have access to these advancements. He secured funding to develop the Carver Nonprofit Genetic Testing Laboratory in 2002, which provides low-cost genetic tests to patients in every state of the U.S. and more than 60 other countries.”
Dr. Stone also developed a free online educational resource featuring thousands of high-resolution medical images to help doctors worldwide diagnose Mendelian retinal diseases.
His current research includes creating affordable gene and stem cell therapies for inherited retinal diseases and identifying genetic variations that cause or modify these conditions.
Dr. Stone earned his medical and doctoral degrees from Baylor College of Medicine before completing his residency and fellowship at the UI, where he joined the faculty in 1990. He holds the Seamans-Hauser Chair of Molecular Ophthalmology at the medical school.
