Wayne State University School of Medicine faculty member Tomomi Ichinose, M.D., Ph.D., has been selected to serve on a National Institutes of Health study section for a four-year term beginning this month. 

Dr. Ichinose, an associate professor of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences, will serve on the Biology and Development group of the Eye Study Section as a scientific reviewer, her first time in such a role.

Her lab investigates the mechanisms of the visual system, examining neural networks, synaptic connections, receptors and voltage-gated channels, and how they contribute to visual signal processing.

The section reviews grant applications to study the basic biology of the eye and other light-sensing systems, with a major focus on discovering fundamental biology and mechanisms important for normal visual function or non-visual light-sensing systems.

As a standing member, she will annually read and write critiques for about 10 R01 and R21 grant applications, attend three study sections per year to discuss those applications, and score all applications based on the discussion.

“It is a great honor to be a standing member, and a great opportunity for our vision research community at WSU,” she said.

Dr. Ichinose is looking forward to learning “cutting-edge science from many excellent applications. Also, I will join the discussion with top-notch scientists during the meeting.”

She was invited by NIH scientific review officers and nominated by a standing member while serving for a study section on an ad hoc basis.