Bethesda, Maryland —The NEI Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) met over three days in March on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, bringing together experts to evaluate ongoing research programs and discuss emerging priorities in vision science.
Vinit Mahajan, M.D., Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology at Stanford University and vice chair for research, was recently appointed to the BSC. He and the other counselors reviewed NEI faculty and laboratory progress and assessed the impact and innovation of research projects. They also provided recommendations on future directions for the institute’s intramural program.
“Serving on the NEI Board of Scientific Counselors was a privilege,” Mahajan said. “It provided a unique opportunity to see the breadth of cutting-edge vision research happening at the NIH and to contribute to shaping its future. The experience highlighted the collaborative spirit behind NIH science.”
The BSC acts as an external scientific review body. Its members, distinguished researchers who are not part of NIH, examine the work of intramural laboratories, individual investigators, and clinical research programs. Their reviews focus on several key criteria: the significance of the scientific questions being addressed, the innovation and rigor of the methods used, and the overall impact of the research on the field.
These evaluations are conducted periodically, typically every four years for individual principal investigators. During site visits and meetings, investigators present their findings and plans, while board members discuss progress, ask questions, and assess whether research resources and strategies align with the institute’s mission.
Mahajan said, “We should not underestimate the impact NEI research continues to have on saving the sight of Americans. There are patient care programs and research projects going on at the NEI that are not happening anywhere else in the world. The NEI and NIH are jewels in the American crown.”
After each review cycle, the board produces recommendations that are shared with NIH leadership, including the institute director and the deputy director for Intramural Research. These recommendations help guide decisions about research priorities, laboratory structure, and long-term investments in scientific areas relevant to the institute’s goals.
Founded in 1968, the National Eye Institute’s mission is to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through vision research. The institute supports both external research grants across the United States and internal research conducted at the NIH campus.
Mahajan said, “NEI director Michael Chiang M.D., Ph.D., his leadership team, and administrative staff have done an exceptional job over the last several years. The NEI intramural and extramural programs have had impacts beyond eye care and vision research. The technologies are also improving the general health of Americans in the areas of diabetes, Alzheimer’s, big-data, Artificial Intelligence, and device implants.”
He added, “I learned that NEI’s intramural program supports scientists investigating a wide range of topics from the genetics of retinal disease to neural signaling in the visual system to the development of new therapies for blindness.”
The Board of Scientific Counselors provides an essential layer of oversight to ensure that this work remains innovative, impactful, and aligned with the broader mission of improving human vision and eye health. As biomedical science evolves, the work of advisory boards like the NEI’s Board of Scientific Counselors continues to be vital. By combining independent expertise with rigorous evaluation, the board helps maintain the integrity of the NIH intramural research enterprise and supports discoveries that may ultimately transform the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of eye disease.
Mahajan said, “The March 2026 meeting exemplified this process—bringing together leaders in ophthalmology, neuroscience, genetics, and translational medicine to review progress and chart the future of vision research. The experience underscored how collaborative oversight strengthens the scientific ecosystem and helps ensure that groundbreaking research continues to thrive.”