Dr. Pierce joins MEEI

Boston-In September, clinician scientist Eric Pierce, MD, PhD, will join the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) and Harvard Department of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Pierce will serve as associate director of the Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations as a clinician and educator, and as director of the new Ocular Genomics Institute, where he will direct the genetic therapies program.

Dr. Pierce’s scientific efforts to date have included groundbreaking work to address retinal degenerations using genetic sequencing and gene therapy methods. His recent research efforts have focused on the use of next-generation DNA sequencing to identify retinal degeneration genes, and to improve genetic diagnostic testing for patients who have inherited retinal degeneration disorders.

“I take extraordinary pride in welcoming Dr. Pierce, who is one of the preeminent clinician scientists in this important field of ophthalmic disease and research,” said Joan W. Miller, MD, chief of ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital, and chair of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. “Bringing him into the department will accelerate our growth into advanced studies in genomic research and gene therapy, and move us another critical step closer to achieving our mission of eliminating blinding diseases,” she said.