Scientific Advisory Council
Dr. Yin Allison Liu MD, PhD
Dr. Yin Allison Liu is the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Mellie J Foundation. She is an Associate Professor of Neuro-Ophthalmology at the University of California, Davis. She has completed specialized training in both Neurology and Neuro-Ophthalmology. Dr. Liu's current research focuses on utilizing state-of-the-art ophthalmic technology to detect changes in the eye related to rare diseases. As an accomplished researcher, Dr. Liu has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific articles and book chapters. She is also an active member of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society Research Committee, which allows her to collaborate with leading experts in the field and stay at the forefront of advancements. Dr. Liu completed a fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology at Stanford University.
Dr. John Chen MD, PhD
Dr. John Chen is a Member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Mellie J Foundation. He attended the University of Virginia for his undergraduate and combined MD/PhD degrees. He completed his Ophthalmology residency and Neuro-Ophthalmology fellowship training at the University of Iowa. He then took a position at the Mayo Clinic in 2014 where he specializes in Neuro-Ophthalmology. Currently, he serves as a Consultant and Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology, and Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Director at the Mayo Clinic. Among Dr. Chen’s awards/honors are the AAO Achievement Award, Top Doctors in Minnesota, the Heed Fellowship, resident and fellow teaching awards at the University of Iowa, Ophthalmology Teacher of the Year Award four times at the Mayo Clinic, and the 2023 Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator Award. He is a board member of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society and is on multiple committees for the AAO, co-chairs the Upper Midwest Neuro-Ophthalmology Group, is a member of the American Ophthalmological Society and American Eye Study Club, previously served as the President of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology and participated in the AAO and AUPO Leadership Development Programs. He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications, has received several research awards, and is currently RO1 funded through the NIH. He has given over 200 oral presentations, including multiple named lectureships, and visiting professorships, on his interests in ophthalmic imaging, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and optic neuritis, especially NMOSD and MOG antibody-associated disease.
Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand MD
Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand is a Member of the Scientific Advisory Council of the Mellie J Foundation. He is an Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF. He specializes in caring for patients with a wide range of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Gelfand conducts clinical research focused on advancing new treatments for neuroimmunological diseases and restoring neurological function. Dr. Gelfand is also an award-winning medical educator. Dr. Gelfand received an A.B. in history from Princeton University, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship in internal medicine, residency in neurology, and subspecialty fellowship training in MS/neuroimmunology, all at UCSF. Dr. Gelfand went on to earn a Masters in Advanced Study in clinical research at UCSF. He is board-certified in Neurology. Dr. Gelfand is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (FAAN) and was elected Chair of the American Academy of Neurology Autoimmune Neurology section.
Dr. Heather Moss MD, PhD
Dr. Heather Moss is Professor in the Stanford Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology & Neurological Sciences. She is also Vice Chair of Clinical Research and Director of the Neuro-ophthalmology Fellowship in the Stanford Department of Ophthalmology. She directs an innovative clinical-research program in biomarker discovery at the Spencer Center for Vision Research at Stanford and provides expert neuro-ophthalmic clinical care at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford.
Dr. Moss pursued undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering at the University of Guelph, followed by doctoral studies in medical engineering at Harvard and MIT, seeking to improve human health through application of engineering principles. Working with patients inspired her to become a physician; after earning her medical degree at Harvard, she completed residency training in Neurology and fellowship training in Neuro-ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania. She spent six years on the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago, serving as the Director of Neuro-ophthalmology and starting a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship training program, before joining the Stanford faculty in 2016.
Her clinical expertise includes diagnosis and treatment of optic nerve diseases, eye movement disorders, and neurological pathology affecting visual pathways. She is a national leader in application of telemedicine to improve access to neuro-ophthalmic care. Her research lab is developing novel diagnostic approaches to neurological and neuro-ophthalmic diseases through application of innovative electrophysiology, imaging, and mathematical modeling. She has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, has authored numerous book chapters, and serves on the editorial board of four journals. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) and has been elected to leadership roles in both organizations.