Michigan's 15th President Joins the Department
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KELLOGG’S CLINICAL EXPERTISE AND
CRITICAL MASS OF RESEARCH TALENT,
COMBINED WITH THE ALMOST UNLIMITED
POTENTIAL FOR COLLABORATIONS ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY, MAKES IT ONE OF THE
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In July 2022, Santa Ono, Ph.D., was named the 15th President of the University of Michigan. At the same time, the Kellogg Eye Center gained a renowned vision researcher. Dr. Ono brings vast leadership experience to the president’s office, having previously held the position at both the University of Cincinnati and the University of British Columbia. At Michigan, he oversees the activities of more than 65,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nearly 300 degree programs across 19 schools and colleges on three campuses, as well as a research volume in excess of $1.86 billion. But the chance to lead one of the world’s most influential academic institutions wasn’t the only thing that drew Dr. Ono to Michigan. He is, after all, a researcher at heart. Dr. Ono began his academic career in immunogenetics research, studying the molecular biology of the immune system and its impact on the development of type 1 diabetes. He was urged to apply his expertise in immunology to eye diseases when recruited from Johns Hopkins University to the Harvard Medical School Schepens Eye Research Institute. At Schepens and in subsequent positions, including at the University College London’s Moorfields Eye Institute, Dr. Ono led pioneering research into the role of the immune system in ocular surface diseases and agerelated macular degeneration (AMD). Among his many published findings was the identification of antibodies that may contribute to the progression of AMD and the transition from the dry to the wet form of the disease. After a year fully devoted to his role as president, Dr. Ono is able to engage once again in research. A U-M professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences (as well as microbiology, immunology, and molecular, cellular and developmental biology) he is in the process of setting up his lab at Kellogg. Dr. Ono credits Paul P. Lee, M.D., J.D., U-M Medical Group Executive Director, Senior Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and former Kellogg Chair, with recruiting him to U-M. “Michigan has built an international reputation for research excellence, and that was a major draw for me,” he says. “Kellogg is globally respected for making fundamental contributions to our understanding of eye diseases and their treatments.” “I have been involved in eye research at top institutions in the U.S., the U.K. and Canada, and have followed the work of basic and clinical scientists at Kellogg for decades,” he continues. “Kellogg’s clinical expertise
MOST ATTRACTIVE PLACES TO DO EYE RESEARCH ANYWHERE. IT’S A THRILL TO BE HERE, AND I CAN’T WAIT TO GET BACK INTO THE LAB. — Santa Ono, Ph.D.
and critical mass of research talent, combined with the almost unlimited potential for collaborations across the University, makes it one of the most attractive places to do eye research anywhere. It’s a thrill to be here, and I can’t wait to get back into the lab.”
