Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Eye Institute (NEI) awarded $156,942 to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867) effective August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2028. This project grant funds research to decode the genetic basis of eye diseases through advanced computational and analytical methods. The research will utilize machine learning techniques and large language models (LLMs) to analyze genomic sequencing data and electronic health records (EHRs) from large-scale biobanks. The project aims to identify causal genes within genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci and discover novel therapeutic targets for complex eye disorders by employing gene- and network-based burden tests on rare genetic variants with predicted high phenotypic impact.

Dr. Meltem Ece Kars, an ophthalmologist and statistical geneticist, will conduct this research with three core training objectives: (1) developing expertise in leveraging common data models and LLMs to effectively utilize structured and unstructured EHR data in ophthalmology; (2) acquiring proficiency in machine learning techniques for biomedical research; and (3) gaining additional skills in translational genetics applications. The research builds upon Dr. Kars's postdoctoral experience identifying disease genes across diverse human disorders and inheritance models, focusing her expertise toward advancing the understanding of genetic determinants in eye diseases and facilitating the development of therapeutic strategies.