The University of Utah's Moran Eye Center announced July 30, 2026, that Kristen M. Kwan, PhD, will become Vice Chair for Vision Research effective Aug. 1, 2026. Kwan will work alongside Paul S. Bernstein, MD, PhD, who is transitioning to the newly created role of Vice Chair for Clinical Research to provide complementary leadership across the center's research programs.
New Leadership Structure
The restructuring aims to strengthen the strategic direction of the Moran Eye Center's research program and support scientific discovery across its various laboratories and centers. According to the Moran Eye Center, the new leadership structure will divide responsibilities to better guide the center's overall research mission and facilitate continued growth.
In her new role, Kwan will oversee the strategic direction of the center's research program. She is a Professor of Human Genetics and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. Kwan has been a member of the Moran faculty since 2015 and has worked with investigators in several fields, including vision science, cell biology, developmental biology, genetics, and imaging research.
Clinical and Vision Research Focus
Paul S. Bernstein will focus his efforts on elevating the center's clinical research. He will guide and support clinical investigators, expand research opportunities, and advance studies across a wide range of eye diseases and treatment approaches. This transition follows Bernstein's previous tenure as the Moran Eye Center's Vice Chair for Clinical and Basic Science Research.
Bernstein's clinical expertise includes the study of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), specifically regarding the role of nutrition and environment in its prevention and treatment. His work also includes inherited retinal and macular dystrophies, as well as the surgical treatment of vitreoretinal disorders like retinal detachments and diabetic retinopathy.
Bernstein's Clinical Contributions
Bernstein has a significant history of leadership in landmark clinical trials. He served as the principal investigator for the National Eye Institute's AREDS2 study, a multicenter trial that helped establish nutritional recommendations to reduce the risk of AMD progression. His research lab has also been instrumental in establishing the importance of maintaining macular health through lutein and zeaxanthin.
Additionally, Bernstein has conducted international collaborative clinical studies that helped develop FDA-approved therapies for Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel), a rare eye disease that causes significant vision loss in middle-aged adults. His research has also contributed to advancements in retinal imaging for earlier disease detection.
Kwan's Research Background
Kwan brings extensive research funding and experience to her new leadership position. She has secured more than $6 million in research funding to support her work on the genetic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms guiding eye development and vision disorders. Her research has received support from the National Eye Institute, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, and the March of Dimes.
Kwan has received national recognition, including a March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award. Her academic background includes an undergraduate degree in biological sciences from Stanford University and a doctorate in cell and systems biology from Harvard University. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neurobiology and anatomy at the University of Utah.
National and International Roles
In addition to her laboratory leadership, Kwan has held several high-level research roles. She has served as the Director of the T32 Developmental Biology Training Grant and has held leadership positions in the international scientific community. These roles include serving as Chair of the National Institutes of Health Biology and Development of the Eye Study Section, and as Co-Vice Chair of the Gordon Conference on Visual System Development. She is also an elected Secretary of the International Zebrafish Society.
Departmental Leadership Remarks
Jeff Pettey, MD, MBA, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and the Moran Eye Center, praised the appointments. Regarding Kwan, Pettey stated she is an exceptional scientist whose research accomplishments and understanding of the center's resources make her uniquely qualified for the role.
Pettey also noted that Bernstein's deep clinical expertise makes him uniquely suited to advance the clinical research program as the center places increased emphasis on that part of its mission.
About the Moran Eye Center
The Moran Eye Center is home to more than 20 laboratories and centers focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disease. The facility's faculty conducts more than 80 clinical trials annually to evaluate new medical devices, processes, and therapies to improve eye care.
Major research initiatives hosted at the center 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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