Our expanding research needs will be met by increasing space in the Oakdale research Facility, completion of phase one construction of the Medical Education and Biomedical research Facility, and renovation of the Blodi Eye Pathology Laboratory. The establishment of The University of Iowa Center for Macular Degeneration has resulted in major expansion of research personnel and space primarily through the efforts of Ed Stone, director of the Molecular Ophthalmology Laboratories, and Greg Hageman, director of Morphology and Cell Biology in the Oakdale Research Facility. The center is expected to receive more than 20 million dollars in grants and awards from the National Institutes of Health, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Research to Prevent Blindness, and other philanthropic groups and individuals in the next five years. Capital and programmatic expansion cannot be achieved without dedicated and outstanding faculty and support staff. Over the past 14 years, a number of senior faculty retired and others left for other institutions or private practice.
Attractive offers come to all the faculty, but most remain and have flourishing careers.
A new cadre of young, talented, and ambitious faculty have joined the department and gained national and international recognition. This is a natural evolution, but one that does not occur without support from the institution and teamwork. My job, as Fred Blodi said, is comparable to that of conductor of a fine symphony orchestra. Each orchestra member is an accomplished artist. All musicians enjoy opportunities to perform solos.