The Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science is pleased to announce that Brian Hafler, MD, PhD, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Colton Fund Award through Yale Ventures.
The Colton Fund supports innovative, early-stage research and translational initiatives with strong potential to advance scientific discovery, accelerate therapeutic innovation, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration across Yale. The award is designed to help investigators develop promising ideas that can ultimately lead to new technologies, treatments, and improved patient outcomes.
Dr. Hafler’s research program focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying retinal degeneration, neuroinflammation, and regenerative biology. Using advanced single-cell and translational research approaches, his work seeks to uncover the pathways that drive retinal and neurodegenerative diseases while identifying potential therapeutic targets for vision-threatening conditions.
By bridging basic science discovery with clinical application, Dr. Hafler’s research has contributed important insights into the mechanisms of retinal disease and neurodegeneration. His innovative work continues to advance the field of vision science and has earned both national and international recognition.
The selection of Dr. Hafler for the 2026 Colton Fund Award reflects the significance and promise of his research program and underscores Yale Ophthalmology & Visual Science’s continued leadership in translational vision science and interdisciplinary biomedical research.
This award further supports Yale’s mission of advancing innovative research with meaningful potential to improve patient outcomes and develop future therapies for complex ophthalmic and neurologic diseases.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hafler on this outstanding achievement.
To learn more about the Colton Fund Award and other award recipients, please visit the Yale Ventures website.