蜜桃传媒

An internationally acclaimed vision scientist, Fliesler is widely considered the foremost expert on cholesterol metabolism in the retina. He has long studied the role of lipid metabolism, particularly cholesterol and related isoprenoids, and its effects on retinal development, function and degeneration.

Fliesler is also vice chair for research in the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the Ira G. Ross Eye Institute Vision Research Center.  

“We take this opportunity to celebrate Dr. Fliesler’s remarkable achievements and lasting contributions to vision science and academic leadership at the 蜜桃传媒,” said , senior associate dean for faculty affairs at the Jacobs School, who announced Fliesler as the 2025 award recipient at this year’s annual Stockton Kimball Lecture. 

Fliesler’s research was instrumental in describing for the first time the involvement of the lipid intermediate pathway in glycoprotein synthesis in the human retina and the importance of protein glycosylation for normal retinal photoreceptor cell differentiation.

Fliesler continues to investigate retinal diseases and degeneration linked to cholesterol processing, such as Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), a birth defect resulting in dysmorphic and cognitive abnormalities. His recent research has shown that a supplementation approach can prevent retinal degeneration in an animal model of SLOS.

“This award signifies to me recognition of my scholarly and scientific achievements over the course of my professional career and my contributions to the educational mission of the school as well as my service to the school, the university in general, and to the scientific community at large,” Fliesler said.

“I think this award recognizes my significant advancement of the understanding of the importance of cholesterol metabolism in maintaining the normal structure and function of the vertebrate retina, and the development of a viable animal model of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.”

Fliesler has received numerous other prestigious awards and honors recognizing his scientific achievement and service, including being named a Gold-tier Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (FARVO), the Paul Kayser International Award in Retina Research from the Retina Research Foundation and, most recently, the 2025 Schroepfer Medal from the American Oil Chemists’ Society.

From UB, Fliesler has received a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and was appointed to the rank of UB Distinguished Professor in 2014 and SUNY Distinguished Professor in 2018. 

As a leading researcher in his field, Fiesler has served on various federal and private grant review panels, including at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation, and on many advisory and award committees.

He is currently a principal investigator or co-investigator on various grants from the NIH and Department of Veterans Affairs, maintaining a consistent and strong record of funding.

“Dr. Fliesler maintains a robust federally funded research program currently supported by more than $5.5 million in grants from the National Eye Institute and the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Arrizabalaga said.

“Equally impressive is his dedication to mentoring early-career scientists, fostering the next generation of vision researchers,” Arrizabalaga added. Fliesler has mentored numerous students and researchers at all levels, from undergraduates to doctoral and medical students to postdocs to junior faculty. 

He is an author of over 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles published in various high-impact journals. Fliesler has also authored numerous abstracts, book chapters, and editorials and has served on editorial boards of and been a reviewer for numerous journals publishing research on ophthalmology, neuroscience, and other fields. Since 2018, he has been editor-in-chief of the journal Experimental Eye Research.

Fliesler has an extensive record of service to the public, giving talks, leading workshops, and judging participants at various community research day events. He has also served UB through involvement with various awards and faculty programming committees. 

“In every facet of his work — research, leadership, education, and collaboration — Dr. Fliesler exemplifies excellence,” Arrizabalaga said.

Fliesler earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the 蜜桃传媒 of California, Berkeley, and his doctorate in biochemistry from Rice 蜜桃传媒. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship studying retinal biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine.

In 2008, Fliesler joined the faculty of the Jacobs School’s Department of Ophthalmology and holds secondary appointments as professor of neuroscience and professor of . Before coming to UB, Fliesler was a longtime faculty member at Saint Louis 蜜桃传媒.

Fliesler was honored May 20 during the Jacobs School’s Faculty and Staff Recognition Awards celebration.

He will deliver the Stockton Kimball Lecture in 2026.

The award and lecture recognize an outstanding scholar and researcher who has also contributed significantly to the university, school and community. It is named in memory of Stockton Kimball, MD ’29, dean of the medical school from 1946 to 1958.