Maria Grant, M.D., FARVO, professor and Eivor and Alston Callahan, M.D., Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology, received the prestigious Ludwig von Sallmann prize at the International Society of Eye Research (ISER) 2026 meeting held in Valencia, Spain on Aug. 27.
Presented in honor of Ludwig von Sallmann, M.D., a renowned ophthalmologist and investigator whose contributions greatly impacted how clinicians and scientists understand vision, this award is granted biennially to individuals who have distinguished themselves by making significant contributions to vision research and ophthalmology.
This award recognizes Grant’s research on the relationship between retina health and the gut microbiome. Her most recent breakthrough, published in Gut BMJ, revealed the protective effects of tryptophan metabolism on the retina. Grant was recently awarded a $2.67 million federal research grant alongside co-investigator Michael Boulton, Ph.D., professor in the UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to expand on this landmark publication.
Grant’s research has major implications for individuals with Type 2 diabetes, who are at greater risk of developing diabetic retinopathy due to their inability to effectively absorb tryptophan. Through her research, Grant and her team aim to optimize how tryptophan is produced and create supplemental therapy for those who cannot absorb it effectively.
“Dr. Grant is an outstanding clinician-scientist whose research continues to leave lasting impacts in the field of ophthalmology,” said Brian Samuels, M.D., Ph.D., professor and The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology. “We are incredibly proud to see her research recognized with this honor and anticipate this work will have meaningful impact on individuals around the world.”