Adrienne L. Graves

Chairman, Iveric Bio. Former President and CEO, Santen Inc., San Francisco, California, USA

Why did you decide to pursue ophthalmology?

I remember being fascinated with vision as a child. It seemed to me like a sort of magic trick. I was intrigued that everything disappeared when I closed my eyes, and then it all instantly reappeared when I opened them! Wow! I wanted to know how it worked, but my parents didn’t quite understand what I was asking. When I got a little older I started reading encyclopedia articles, but it wasn’t until college that I could finally take courses to start to understand sensory processes and do my first research project in visual psychophysics. The more I learned, the more my fascination grew. Tremendous advances in technologies, therapeutics, and potential new treatment targets have kept me excited and engaged over more than 40 years. And I still think vision is pretty magical!

What would you like to see change in ophthalmology in the next 10 years?

I’d like to see advances in the development of neuroprotection and vision restoration therapies for glaucoma and inherited retinal diseases. I’m hopeful because of the tremendous progress in technologies developed for elucidating disease pathophysiology and studying new therapeutic mechanisms. I’m particularly impressed with collaborative research approaches that include multiple laboratories and combine skill sets to study potential therapeutic approaches. Notable examples of this approach are the “Catalyst for a Cure” research teams funded by Glaucoma Research Foundation.

I’d also like to see continued progress in gender and ethnic diversity in ophthalmology, both in medicine and executive roles in industry.

Who would you invite to a dream dinner party?

My love affair with Paris began when I did my postdoctoral fellowship there, so my dream would be to recreate a “Midnight in Paris” 1920s dinner party. I’d include Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Josephine Baker, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec… And, since it’s a “dream” party, I’d also include Oscar Wilde, who spent the last part of his life in Paris, famously saying “I am dying beyond my means.”

Who in ophthalmology has been the most influential over the past 10 years?

It’s hard to imagine influencing and accomplishing more in ophthalmology than Robert N. Weinreb, Chair and Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at UCSD and Director of Shiley Eye Institute. Dr. Weinreb has excelled as a clinician, surgeon, scientist, mentor, innovator, leader, and world renowned glaucoma expert. He has received numerous prestigious awards, has published volumes of cutting edge research, and has held key leadership positions in multiple organizations, including serving as President of ARVO. Dr. Weinreb has trained clinicians and researchers who have in turn become thought leaders in glaucoma around the world, and he has remained dedicated to patient care for over 45 years.

I’ll also add that, through my corporate boards and Foundation boards, I’m fortunate to work with many ophthalmology luminaries and visionaries, including Richard Lindstrom, Pravin Dugel, Jose Sahel,  Eugene De Juan, Mark Blumenkranz, and Jean Bennett.

Do you have any personal missions for the next 10 years?

I’m still passionate about research innovations in ophthalmology and plan to remain active in corporate board work to advance novel therapies in retina, glaucoma, and external disease. I also plan to remain involved with Foundation boards, working to support research, patient advocacy, and health equity. One role I’m especially engaged in now is chairing the RD (Retinal Degeneration) Fund, the venture philanthropy arm of Foundation Fighting Blindness. The RD Fund invests in cutting-edge companies focused on inherited retinal diseases. These investments further the research into novel therapies and generate even more funds that are poured right back into furthering FFB’s mission. It’s thrilling to be actively involved in supporting early-stage companies working on transformative therapies.

I’d like continue growing Glaucoma 360 – a Glaucoma Research Foundation three-day event I co-founded with Dr. Andrew Iwach. We just held our 12th annual meeting, including the New Horizons symposium, which showcases innovation in glaucoma. The program features presentations and panels highlighting glaucoma start-up companies, industry executives, ophthalmic leaders, venture capitalists, and the FDA. The meeting is designed to serve as a catalyst, bringing essential components together to speed the translation of new ideas into clinical practice.

I’ll continue as an advocate for gender equity and diversity in ophthalmology, and as an active mentor for women.