Matt Cavanaugh, PhD

See What Matters | Stand Up for Live-Saving Science The National Eye Institute (NEI) is at risk of being consolidated into a larger Brain and Neuroscience Institute under proposed NIH reforms. This would dilute its vision research focused mission and j...

Excited to partake in NAEVR/AEVR's #EmergingVisionScientist program this Fall! Will meet with members of Congress and present research to show the importance of visual research.

Check out their new campaign to learn more about Vision Science Advocacy: www.seewhatmatters.org

#SeeWhatMatters

New review: What V1 Damage Can Teach Us About Visual Perception and Learning

Since the 1800s, lesion studies have shaped what we know re: visual system. With a new ability to restore lost vision, we can use this tool to investigate plasticity and the basis of perception.

doi.org/10.1146/annu...

Newest paper is out in TVST! Quantifying the natural history of hemianopia after stroke. In contrast to prior literature, fields in chronic stroke patients were more variable than expected, with interesting implications for recovery.

tvst.arvojournals.org/article.aspx...

Next up: assessing what regions of the visual cortex are damaged following stroke! Poster 337, come by!

#vss2025

Come by VSS Posters 305 and 306 to hear about the latest in Cortical Blindness and rehabilitation!

Congratulations to Hoover Chan for his Lifetime Service Award from VSS! Well deserved.

Yes, I can confirm that is planned

Anti-DEI Lawsuits Threaten Nonprofits, Philanthropies - Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly New anti-DEI litigation is targeting nonprofits and philanthropies.

I'm not aware of any. But lawsuits and other issues have been escalating for years now in the US:
nonprofitquarterly.org/anti-dei-law...

I understand how painful all of this is, but I would just ask our European colleagues to not assume the worst and give us some modicum of empathy during all of this. The vast majority of us didn’t even know if we would still have jobs a month ago

The Society is reliant on NEI funding, there are several grants available on RePorter to check. As a non-profit, the society is also required to comply with the federal rules or it could be dissolved.

I am hesitant to say too much on a public platform, but yes you are not wrong and to my knowledge some private conversations like you describe are taking place. While not entirely secure, the Discord is a good starting place

I can assure you there was not much choice in the matter. The board though long and hard about these changes and how to best implement them. It is unfortunate they had to happen at all, but it is far from the last action in this ongoing battle.

Just like the anti-gay laws in Florida, the Society isn't going to roll over on every issue. Discussions will continue and we will find actions to be taken.

I think it is safer to make a plan of action together as a group. But the group still has to exist for that to happen. Entire universities have lost their grants, not just individuals. As a non-profit, it could be dissolved overnight if found to be non-compliant with federal rules.

As a non-profit, the Society is also required to follow the federal policy or it can be dissolved

Here is the updated committee page: www.visionsciences.org/networking-c...

And the event is now the Networking Event (no link, but a screenshot to the event in the schedule)

Just as the board had many discussions about leaving Florida, and ultimately decided to do so, I am certain they would be open to it!

The sad reality for US scientists is nearly all funding is reliant on the federal government, with whom we are forced to comply with. VSS likewise must legally comply with the EOs or it will cease to exist and/or face criminal action.

This is not complying in advance, it is fighting for survival.

It is not canceled, the name has been changed

The workshop is not canceled. You will find a similar workshop with the same organizing committee (including FoVea and Visibility reps) in the schedule in the same time slot.

I would strongly disagree, and argue that the good that VSS accomplishes for vision science goes far beyond using specific words in a code of conduct.

As a US based non-profit, VSS had no choice in the matter. No one is happy about it, but that is the simple reality of science in the US right now. But the change of a word does not mean the morals or beliefs have changed.