John D. Ash, PhD

Dr. John D. Ash is a distinguished scientist, educator, and leader in vision science who currently holds the prestigious E. Ronald Salvitti Chair in Ophthalmology Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also the Vice Chair of Ophthalmology, overseeing both research and academic development within the department. Over the course of more than two decades, Dr. Ash has established himself as a world-renowned expert in retinal degeneration, with research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind vision loss due to inherited retinal diseases and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). His pioneering work on neuroprotective cytokines, retinal metabolism, and the regulatory role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in maintaining retinal health has transformed our understanding of the retina’s response to stress and injury and relevance to retinal degeneration. His work continues to influence therapeutic strategies for treating retinal diseases. His findings that the FDA-approved drug Metformin led to ongoing clinical trials led by the National Eye Institute.

In 1999, Dr. Ash began his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2006 and received full Tenure in 2007. In 2011, Dr. Ash moved to the University of Florida as the Francis M. Bullard Eminent Scholar Chair in Ophthalmic Sciences in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida. In 2022, Dr. Ash moved to the University Pittsburgh School of Medicine to become the E. Ronald Salvitti Professor of Ophthalmology Research, where he also serves as the Vice-Chair and Director of Research.