Dr. Mark Pennesi, MD, PhD, FARVO, is a leading ophthalmologist and researcher specializing in inherited retinal diseases. He is the director of the Inherited Retinal Degenerations Division at the Retina Foundation in Dallas, TX.  He is also an Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at the Paul H. Casey Ophthalmic Genetics Division at Oregon Health & Science University’s Casey Eye Institute. Dr. Pennesi earned his BSE in biomedical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed his MD/PhD at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, and an ophthalmic genetics fellowship at the Casey Eye Institute.

A pioneer in gene therapy, Dr. Pennesi has led numerous first-in-human clinical trials, including the groundbreaking BRILLIANCE study, which utilized CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to treat Leber congenital amaurosis type 10. His research focuses on developing novel treatments for inherited retinal diseases. Dr. Pennesi has published over 185 peer-reviewed articles and has received multiple prestigious awards, including the ARVO/Alcon Early Career Clinician-Scientist Research Award, the Alcon Young Investigator Award, and the Macula Society Young Investigator Award.