The Eye-Bank is proud to announce that its research program has been renamed the Patricia Dahl Ocular Tissue Research Program. Patricia Dahl retired from her role as Executive Director and CEO of The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration, the world’s first eye bank, on April 15, 2026. The research program renaming serves as a lasting tribute to her vision and leadership, and to her long-standing commitment to advancing ocular research.
Throughout her 45-year career, Patricia Dahl was a leader in the eye banking profession both at home and abroad. She won the distinguished Leonard Heise Award from the Eye Bank Association of America, and she served as Chair of the Association. She was a decorated member of the European Eye Bank Association, and she served on the New York State Transplant Council and on the Board of Donate Life New York State. Diego Ponzin, President of the European Eye Bank Association, referred to her as “a preeminent architect of modern eye banking.”
The Patricia Dahl Ocular Tissue Research Program is designed to accelerate scientific discovery and expand access to critical resources for researchers by:
- Providing customized ocular research tissue recovered and prepared based on specific study criteria, and increasing the availability of specific tissue types.
- Isolating and cultivating human cell lines—such as Müller cells and Retinal Pigment Epithelial (RPE) cells—that can be stored, shipped, and used on-demand, helping overcome the bottleneck of tissue availability.
Support for the newly renamed program is already strong, with more than $140,000 raised to advance this vital, sight-saving work.
You can help carry Patricia Dahl’s legacy forward. Please consider making a gift today to support the development of new treatments and cures for blinding eye diseases.