Moran Eye Center Names Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision Research
Jul 30, 2026
The John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah has named Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, Vice Chair for Vision Research, effective August 1, 2026. In this leadership role, she will help guide the strategic direction of the Moran Eye Center's research program and support scientific discovery across its laboratories and centers.
Leadership Transition
Kwan will serve alongside Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, who has led Moran’s research enterprise as Vice Chair for Clinical and Basic Science Research and will transition to the new position of Vice Chair for Clinical Research. Together, Kwan and Bernstein will provide complementary leadership across Moran’s basic, translational, and clinical research programs, jointly guiding the center’s overall research mission and its continued growth.
Academic Background
Kwan is a Professor of Human Genetics and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.
Kristen M. Kwan, PhD
She has been a Moran faculty member since 2015 and has worked closely with investigators across vision science, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, and imaging research, bringing a collaborative perspective to her new role.
Research Achievements
An accomplished cell and developmental biologist and vision scientist, Kwan has secured more than $6 million in research funding and built a nationally recognized research program focused on understanding the genetic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that guide eye development and contribute to vision disorders. Her research has been supported by the National Eye Institute, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, March of Dimes, and other organizations. Kwan has earned national recognition, including a March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award.
Education
Kwan earned her undergraduate degree in biological sciences from Stanford University and a doctorate in cell and systems biology from Harvard University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah.
Strategic Vision
As Vice Chair for Vision Research, she will help advance Moran's mission by supporting scientific excellence, strengthening research partnerships, and creating new opportunities for innovation that benefit patients in Utah and around the world.
Leadership Endorsement
"Dr. Kwan is an exceptional scientist whose research accomplishments, collaborative leadership, and deep understanding of Moran's core strengths and exceptional resources for research make her uniquely qualified for this role," said Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and the Moran Eye Center.
In addition to leading her laboratory, Kwan has served in several research leadership roles at the University of Utah, including Director of the T32 Developmental Biology Training Grant. She has also served in leadership roles in the national and international scientific community, including Chair of the National Institutes of Health Biology and Development of the Eye Study Section, and elected positions as Co-Vice Chair of the Gordon Conference on Visual System Development and Secretary of the International Zebrafish Society.
"Moran has an internationally known, exceptional community of researchers responsible for many firsts in the field of vision science,” said Kwan. “I look forward to this role, in which I can support and grow an already outstanding program by advancing vision science in new and meaningful ways.”
About the Moran Eye Center
Moran is home to more than 20 laboratories and centers dedicated to advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disease. Investigators conduct basic, translational, and clinical research spanning inherited retinal disorders, glaucoma, corneal disease, ocular imaging, age-related macular degeneration, and other vision-related conditions. Major research initiatives include the Sharon Eccles Steele Center for Translational Medicine, the Intermountain Ocular Research Center, the Utah Retinal Reading Center, and the Alan S. Crandall Center for Glaucoma Innovation.
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