Harvard Professor Ū. Jurkūnas, Visiting Professor at LSMU: “This is one of the most meaningful things I can give to Lithuania”  

Professor Ūla Jurkūnas, the first Lithuanian woman to become a professor at Harvard Medical School, a pioneer of innovative treatments for eye diseases and an internationally recognised researcher, will share her experience with the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) community. Appointed Visiting Professor at LSMU for a five-year term in February 2026, she visited the University on 23 October to discuss opportunities for further collaboration. 

From Vilnius to Harvard  

Born and raised in Vilnius, Prof. Ūla Jurkūnas moved to the United States at the age of fifteen. She studied medicine at the University of Louisville, completed her residency in ophthalmology at Boston University and continued her career at Mass Eye and Ear, one of the leading US institutions for eye care and research. 

She has worked at Harvard Medical School since 2006 and was appointed Professor of Ophthalmology in 2024, becoming the first Lithuanian woman to achieve this academic distinction. She is also currently a co-director of the Cornea Centre of Excellence under the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. 

Despite spending decades across the Atlantic, she has maintained close ties with Lithuania, regularly visiting her home country and keeping in touch with its medical professionals. 

Research that preserves eyesight   

One of the main areas of Prof. Jurkūnas’ research is the development of new treatments for corneal diseases. She studies Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy, a disease that causes progressive deterioration of vision, and contributes to the search for new treatment options. 

Her contribution to the development of stem cell therapy is particularly significant. Prof. Jurkūnas is one of the pioneers of cultivated stem cell transplantation in the United States. Her research team conducted the first clinical trials of this kind in the country, in which stem cells taken from a patient’s healthy eye are grown in the laboratory and transplanted into the damaged eye.  

The results of a clinical trial involving 14 patients, published in 2025, showed that the method holds promise for restoring the corneal surface, with some patients also experiencing improved vision. This experimental method, known as CALEC, is considered an important step in regenerative ophthalmology. 

Sharing international experience with the LSMU community 

During the meeting at LSMU on 23 October, Prof. Jurkūnas and University representatives discussed prospects for further collaboration, joint research projects and academic exchanges. The meeting was attended by LSMU Vice-Rector for Research Prof. Juozas Kupčinskas, Vice-Rector for Studies Prof. Indrė Čeponienė, and Prof. Reda Žemaitienė, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Faculty of Medicine. 

“It is a great pleasure to have Professor Jurkūnas as part of our University community. During the meeting, we discussed various projects and opportunities for further collaboration that could benefit our University’s researchers in the future,” said Prof. Kupčinskas. 

Prof. Jurkūnas also sees collaboration with the Lithuanian academic community as an opportunity to contribute to scientific progress in her home country. 

“There are many avenues for collaboration. This is one of the most meaningful things I can give to Lithuania. One possibility is student exchange programmes that would allow students to gain experience in laboratories and clinical practice. We can also carry out joint research projects, study the epidemiology of various diseases and different treatment approaches, and share experience between countries,” said Prof. Jurkūnas. 

Prof. Jurkūnas’ appointment at LSMU opens up new opportunities to strengthen international research ties and share the latest knowledge in ophthalmology. Her clinical and research experience will be of great value to the University’s students and researchers.