UNC Ophthalmology congratulates Professor of Ophthalmology Alessandro Iannaccone, MD, MS, FARVO, for being named a Gold Fellow by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Dr. Iannacconne was honored in early May at the annual ARVO meeting in Denver, Colo.
Dr. Iannnaccone specializes in the care of complex and rare diseases and has expertise in treating Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDs) and Autoimmune Retinopathy (AIR). He is a long-time physician scientist with a primary care, clinical trial, translational research and educational focus on IRDs and a secondary focus on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and AIR. In the U.S., Dr. Iannaccone has directed clinical and research programs focused on IRDs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, and at the Duke Eye Center in Durham, NC. Since 2023, he has served as Global Medical Lead in Cell and Gene Therapy for Ophthalmology at Astellas Pharma US, helping develop stem cell- and gene therapy-based approaches for AMD and IRDs aimed at clinical application. 
UNC Ophthalmology’s Interim Chair and Sterling A. Barrett Distinguished Associate Professor of Ophthalmology David Fleischman, MD, MS, FACS, noted: “This is a well-deserved recognition of Dr. Iannaccone’s contributions to vision research and his longstanding dedication to ARVO. The ARVO Gold Fellow honor reflects sustained scholarly achievement and also meaningful service and leadership within one of our field’s most important international organizations. We are fortunate to have Alessandro as a colleague, mentor, investigator, and member of our department. His work and commitment continue to bring distinction to UNC Ophthalmology.”
Dr. Iannaccone reflected: “I am truly honored to be awarded Gold Fellow status by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology! My first ARVO meeting had a profound career- and life-altering impact. It was a seed planted, a confidence-building step taken, a niche found, a life-long passion for finding treatments and cures for patients with retinal degenerative diseases fueled and consolidated, an opportunity developed, a career launched, an incredibly fulfilling journey still in progress, and a life totally changed for the better. That’s what ARVO has been and is for me. For all that and so much more that followed, and even more so today, I say, ‘ARVO, thank you!'”