Up Close and Personal with 2023 Award Winners

Ines Lains, MD, PhD

I am honored and humbled to join the Michels family! I am originally from Portugal and earned my MD and PhD at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. During my PhD, I received a grant that supported me to move to the United States (US) and pursue a research fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE). After my PhD, I trained at the Harvard Ophthalmology Residency Program, and I am now completing my vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at MEE. During this time, I have been fortunate to work with outstanding mentors, to whom I am eternally grateful.

My current main research focus is on metabolomics of age-related macular degeneration. After fellowship, I will be joining as faculty at MEE, and I plan to use my background in metabolomics and retinal imaging to study complex retinal diseases, while maintaining a busy clinical practice.

In addition to retina, I am passionate about people and love spending time with my wonderful family and friends.

Jesse D. Sengillo, MD

I am very grateful and honored to join the Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation family.

I attended SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, during which time I was fortunate to complete a funded research year in inherited retinal disease at Columbia University. I subsequently completed ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where I am currently a vitreoretinal surgery fellow and chief resident.

My research interests focus on novel treatments and outcomes for retinitis pigmentosa and inherited vitreoretinopathies, including gene therapy. Additionally, I enjoy research assessing the natural disease history of retinal pathology and surgical outcomes for complex retinal disease.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing tennis, and cheering on the Buffalo Bills.