A multi-campus research consortium advancing vision science across New York's SUNY system.
The SUNY Eye Institute is a research consortium comprising scientists from five SUNY institutions: Downstate Medical Center, Upstate Medical University, Stony Brook University Medical Center, University at Buffalo, and the SUNY College of Optometry. Established in 2007 and formally recognized in 2009, the SEI fosters collaboration among SUNY researchers to advance understanding of visual function and eye diseases while enhancing training in clinical and basic visual sciences across New York State.
As of October 2010, the SEI had 55 member scientists with primary faculty appointments. The institute's research mandate closely aligns with that of the National Eye Institute (NEI), a division of the National Institutes of Health, which provides approximately 40 research grants to individual faculty scientists. The SEI also receives institutional support through the SUNY REACH program.
The SEI convenes annually in early fall for a two-day scientific meeting, rotating among member campuses. The institute sponsors pilot projects and hosts lecture series broadcast between campuses, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaborative research across the SUNY system.