Project Prakash: Merging Basic Science and Societal Service in Vision Research

Abstract

For nearly 20 years, Prakash has created a humanitarian-scientific synergy by treating congenitally blind children in rural India, then following their visual development to understand how the human brain learns to see. From solving a 300-year-old conundrum to deconstructing the “critical window” of neuroplasticity, Prakash has led to new ways of thinking about development. Unfortunately, many children suffering from treatable congenital blindness around the world remain untreated due to a persistent belief that improvements are not possible past a “critical age” of 5–7 years old. Here, a review of the data identifies an urgent need to engage with stakeholders across the global medical community to disseminate Prakash's findings and overturn these entrenched dogmas. Toward that end, recent partnerships with eye-health organizations expand the reach of this approach and cultivate a cohesive global network. Prakash exemplifies both evidence-based intervention and intervention-based scientific discovery.