Eversight: 2024 Quarter One Update

Michigan Advisory Board members,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the eclipse experience happening today! I am pleased to share an update on Eversight’s work through the first quarter of 2024.

Tissue Transplants

Every year, thousands of donors selflessly give the gift of sight to those in need. In Michigan 576 donors gave the gift of sight as cornea/eye donors from January 1 to March 31, 2024. Below is a breakdown of how donated tissues were used.

Research & Innovations

Eversight is partnering with Emmecell, a private clinical-stage biotechnology company, to advance cell therapies for the treatment of eye disease. Emmecell’s minimally invasive cell therapy injects healthy corneal endothelial cells obtained from donor corneas into the eye to repopulate the patient’s diseased cornea with functioning endothelial cells, potentially eliminating the need for transplantation. Eversight is providing tissue to Emmecell for the continued advancement of this technology and for clinical trials. Learn more here.

You can also watch this video to learn more about Eversight’s Research & Development Team’s work.

Education & Training

From January 1-March 31, 2024, Eversight staff held 11 educational wet lab trainings for 44 surgeons, residents and fellows at partner institutions on four common types of cornea transplant procedures: Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK), Penetrating Keratoplasty (PKP) and Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK). During these sessions, surgeons practiced graft insertion and positioning with individualized, real-time insights from trained, highly experienced surgeon instructors. 

Global Development

Eversight received two generous grants in 2024 to support our global development work. The Alcon Foundation gave $75,000 to support the next phase of eye bank development in Pakistan: The training and oversight of four donation coordinators in Pakistan to facilitate recovery of cornea tissue in accordance with the Hospital Cornea Recovery program at host institutions. We also received a $50,000 grant from The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation to support the placement of corneal tissue at a reduced or no-cost internationally. We are grateful for these gifts which will greatly impact all those living with preventable blindness in the countries where we work.

Golf for Good! The Eversight Vision Classic will be taking place from May 23-June 13 this year and all are welcome to participate! Golf anywhere, anytime between these dates to raise awareness and charitable support for sight-saving transplants and vision research. Learn more and register today https://eversightgolf.givesmart.com Please email me directly if there is a certain area of the event that you would like to contribute to: wine pull, gift card pull, sponsorship, or foursome / single golfer. On June 15, we will host a celebratory luncheon at the Washtenaw Golf Club – luncheon information is also available on the event page linked above.

Thank you for everything you do to ensure those in need have access to the gift of sight. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out – I look forward to hearing from you.

Warmly,
Alex Teska (she/her/hers)
Director of Philanthropy