Prof. Ūla Jurkūnas, the first Lithuanian woman to become a professor at Harvard Medical School, an innovator in eye disease treatment, and an internationally recognized scientist, will share her experience with the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) community. Appointed as a visiting professor at LSMU for a five-year term starting in February 2026, the scientist visited the University on October 23rd to discuss opportunities for further collaboration.
From Vilnius to Harvard
Born and raised in Vilnius, Prof. Ū. Jurkūnas moved to the United States at the age of fifteen. She studied medicine at the University of Louisville, completed her ophthalmology residency at Boston University, and later continued her professional career at „Mass Eye and Ear,” one of the leading eye disease treatment and research institutions in the US.
Working at Harvard Medical School since 2006, the scientist was appointed Professor of Ophthalmology in 2024, becoming the first Lithuanian woman to achieve this academic recognition. She currently co-leads the Cornea Center of Excellence at Harvard Ophthalmology.
Despite decades spent across the Atlantic, the professor has maintained a strong connection with Lithuania, visiting her homeland regularly and nurturing professional ties with the country’s medical professionals.
Research Preserving Vision
A key focus of Prof. Ū. Jurkūnas’s scientific work is the search for new treatments for corneal diseases. She researches Fuchs’ corneal endothelial dystrophy, a condition that causes gradual vision loss, and contributes to finding new treatment options.
Her contribution to the development of stem cell therapy is particularly significant. The professor is a pioneer of cultivated stem cell transplantation surgeries in the US. Her research team has conducted the country’s first clinical trials of this kind, where stem cells are taken from a patient’s healthy eye, multiplied in a laboratory, and then transplanted into the damaged eye.
Results from a clinical trial published in 2025, involving 14 patients, showed the method to be promising for restoring the corneal surface, with vision improvement in some participants. This experimental method, known as CALEC, is considered a significant step in the field of regenerative ophthalmology.
International Experience for the LSMU Community
During the meeting at LSMU on October 23rd, Prof. Ū. Jurkūnas discussed future collaboration prospects, joint scientific projects, and academic exchange opportunities with University representatives. The meeting was attended by LSMU Vice-Rector for Science Prof. Juozas Kupčinskas, Vice-Rector for Studies Prof. Indrė Čeponienė, and Head of the Ophthalmology Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine Prof. Reda Žemaitienė.
„We are very pleased that the professor is part of our University community. During the meeting, we discussed various future collaboration projects and opportunities that could benefit our University’s scientists,” said Prof. J. Kupčinskas.
The professor herself views collaboration with the Lithuanian academic community as an opportunity to contribute to the scientific progress of her native country.
„Many avenues for collaboration are opening up. This is one of the most meaningful things I can give to Lithuania. One possibility is student exchange programs, allowing students to gain experience in laboratories and clinical practice. We can also conduct joint scientific projects, study the epidemiology of various diseases, different treatment methods, and share experiences between countries,” stated Prof. Ū. Jurkūnas.
Prof. Ū. Jurkūnas’s joining the LSMU community opens new opportunities to strengthen international scientific ties and share advanced knowledge in ophthalmology. Her accumulated clinical and scientific experience will be valuable to the University’s students and researchers.
