Duke Eye Center is proud to congratulate Kyle McPherson, a PhD candidate in the University Program in Genetics & Genomics and member of the Bowes Rickman Lab, on being selected for a 2026 Germinator Award from the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences.
McPherson’s research focuses on how retinal “support cells” change before vision loss occurs in age‑related macular degeneration (AMD). These early cellular changes may hold the key to understanding progressive vision loss. The Germinator Award provides critical support for his project, enabling him to develop new technical skills and generate insights that could inform future therapies.
Kyle is one of several outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral fellows across the Duke University School of Medicine recognized this year for innovative, high‑impact research at the intersection of neuroscience and vision science.
We are proud to celebrate his achievements and look forward to the discoveries ahead.