Rewriting the Rules of Vision Loss: Meet Dr. Levi Todd

For some, the call to science comes early, but for Dr. Levi Todd, the spark ignited in college through a profound question: how does three pounds of tissue inside the human skull generate everything meaningful about our lived experience? That deep fascination with the brain led him directly to neuroscience, driving an academic journey from earning his PhD at The Ohio State University to now leading cutting-edge vision research. Having lived everywhere from Missouri and Turkey to California and New York, Dr. Todd brings a broad perspective and infectious enthusiasm to the laboratory, viewing science as a captivating puzzle where every discovery reveals the next vital piece.

Today, as a Shaffer Grant awardee, Dr. Todd is channeling that investigative drive into one of the most exciting frontiers in vision science: cellular regeneration. In the mammalian retina, the loss of retinal ganglion cells due to glaucoma has historically been considered permanent. However, Dr. Todd’s project is challenging that boundary by exploring whether the retina can be coaxed into healing itself. Building on groundbreaking advances that show non-neuronal support cells called Müller glia can be reprogrammed into new neurons, his team is investigating whether this endogenous regeneration can be stimulated specifically within glaucoma models.

The clinical implications of Dr. Todd’s Shaffer-funded work are immense. Since the initial discovery of mouse retinal regeneration in 2017, the field has moved at a remarkable pace toward clinical relevance, including breakthroughs using gene therapy vectors and human retinal organoids. By evaluating whether glial-mediated regeneration is viable in chronic neurodegeneration, Dr. Todd is addressing a pivotal question needed to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and future human therapies. For patients, this line of inquiry offers an inspiring glimpse into a future where lost optic nerve cells might actually be restored.

Driven by a desire to develop treatments for devastating diseases and a passion for mentoring the next generation of scientists, Dr. Todd finds deep purpose in his daily work. Outside the lab, he stays energized by embracing a wide variety of interests, from cooking, reading, and watching films to traveling, playing ice hockey, and finding quiet focus in the mountains. Thanks to the support of Glaucoma Research Foundation donors, visionary researchers like Dr. Todd are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, bringing us closer to a world where vision loss can be reversed.

Where were you born?

Whiteman Airforce Base in Missouri — then moved to Turkey, then California, then Nebraska, then Ohio, then Washington, and now New York!

Where did you get your PhD?

The Ohio State University

What first interested you in science?

I came to science relatively late, not until my undergraduate years, driven by a fascination with the brain. How does three pounds of tissue sitting inside my skull generate the electrical activity that underlies everything meaningful about our lived experience: how we perceive the world, what we think, what we feel? That curiosity led me to neuroscience courses and ultimately to major in neuroscience.

What is your personal motivation as a scientist?

I love the investigative nature of science: gathering pieces of a puzzle, fitting them together, and figuring out where to look next to get a clearer picture. I also feel a deep sense of gratitude that my work carries real meaning. Not only are my questions aimed at helping ameliorate devastating diseases, but I get to mentor young scientists every day who will become the future investigators and physicians of our society.

What is the goal of your Shaffer research project?

The goal of my project is to investigate the potential of endogenously regenerating retinal ganglion cells. In the mammalian retina, neurodegeneration is permanent. Our group and others have discovered ways to regenerate new neurons by reprogramming retinal glial cells into neurogenic progenitors. Our project specifically asks whether we can stimulate this regeneration in mouse models of glaucoma.

How could your Shaffer research impact glaucoma patients?

The approach to stimulate endogenous regeneration has rapidly advanced over the past decade. It was only in 2017 that Müller glia were first shown to regenerate neurons in the adult mouse retina. Since then, the field has made significant advances in improving regeneration efficacy and controlling the cell fate of new neurons. Recent work has demonstrated that regeneration can be stimulated by clinically relevant AAV strategies and in human systems like retinal organoids. Our work will help answer whether glial-mediated regeneration is feasible in chronic neurodegeneration models, a critical question as these approaches move closer to human applicability.

When you’re not in the lab, what do you do for fun?

Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, cooking, traveling, watching films, spending time in the mountains, and ice hockey.

Posted on October 8, 2026. Article by Cynthia Steel, PhD, MBA.