The Dreamer Who Does: How Dr. Kiyoharu Miyagishima is Rewriting the Approach to Glaucoma

For Dr. Kiyoharu J. Miyagishima, that spark was ignited during weekend family trips to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Wandering through interactive exhibits, a young Miyagishima learned a fundamental truth that would shape his entire career: science should embrace curiosity—it should be fun, engaging, and accessible to everyone.

Today, the Los Angeles native and University of Southern California (USC) PhD graduate is turning that childhood wonder into groundbreaking reality as a featured Scientist of the Month.

Dr. Miyagishima isn’t content with just studying the world; he wants to change it. He describes himself as a “dreamer who does”— a scientist drawn to imagining possibilities that others might overlook and converting them into tangible action. He is driven by a desire to make discoveries and clear the path for future scientists, leaving behind work that benefits everyone. This philosophy of proactive innovation is what led him to tackle one of ophthalmology’s toughest challenges: glaucoma.

His current work at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC, backed by his 2026 Shaffer grant, takes a remarkably unique approach to the disease. While traditional glaucoma treatments primarily focus on lowering intraocular pressure, Dr. Miyagishima saw an unmet need and looked to an unexpected place for answers: hibernating animals. By studying how cells and tissues survive extreme conditions during hibernation, he aims to apply these natural, bio-inspired strategies to human cells, making them resilient against stress. This creates a powerful, two-pronged defense that can be used alongside existing therapies, actively promoting cell survival to prevent vision loss and drastically improve patient outcomes.

When he steps out of the lab, Dr. Miyagishima carries that same passion into his personal life. A massive sports fan, he loves watching and playing basketball and baseball. For years, he served as a coach for his child’s sports teams—an experience that deepened his appreciation for teamwork and mentorship. For Dr. Miyagishima, family is the ultimate anchor, and his scientific journey is fueled by a generational legacy of hard work and resilience.

Over the years, his family has faced and overcome many challenges together, and seeing these core values and research integrity reflected in his child’s growth has been one of his proudest achievements. These deeply rooted life lessons shape not only who he is as a person, but also the scientist he strives to become. Looking ahead, Dr. Miyagishima’s ultimate goal is to become an independent investigator, pursuing research that makes a tangible difference in the world. With the Shaffer grant keeping that dream alive, he continues to blend the curiosity of his childhood with the resilience of his family, actively building a brighter, clearer future for patients worldwide.

Where were you born?

Los Angeles, CA

Where did you get your PhD?

University of Southern California (USC)

What first interested you in science?

I became interested in science at a young age. I loved visiting the California Science Center in Exposition Park with my family on weekends, where I could spend hours exploring the interactive exhibits. One of the key lessons I take from those visits is that science should embrace curiosity—it should be fun, engaging, and accessible to everyone.

What is your personal motivation as a scientist?

I am driven by a desire to make discoveries and clear the path for future scientists, leaving work that benefits everyone. I see myself as a dreamer who does, a change-maker who turns ideas into action. I am drawn to imagining possibilities others might overlook and bringing them to life in ways that make a real difference.

What is the goal of your Shaffer research project?

The goal of my Shaffer project is to understand how cells and tissues survive extreme conditions in hibernating animals, and to apply these natural, bio-inspired strategies to make cells more resilient to stress.      

How could your Shaffer research impact glaucoma patients?

My Shaffer project has the potential to help glaucoma patients by addressing an unmet need—by promoting cell survival under stress. This approach could be used alongside existing therapies that target lowering intraocular pressure, helping to prevent vision loss and improve patient outcomes.

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

I enjoy both watching and playing basketball and baseball. When my child was younger, I had the rewarding opportunity to help coach several of his teams, an experience that strengthened my appreciation for teamwork and mentorship. Spending time with my family is deeply important to me, and it is a true joy to be present for and support my child’s growth and development.

What else would you like the readers to know about you?

From the beginning of my scientific journey, my family’s values of hard work and resilience, alongside my commitment to research integrity, have guided me. Over the years, my family has faced and overcome many challenges together, and seeing these lessons and values reflected in my child has been one of my proudest achievements. These experiences have shaped not only who I am, but also the scientist I strive to become. My goal is to become an independent investigator, pursuing research that makes a tangible difference, and the Shaffer grant keeps that dream alive, fueling my desire to help others and create a lasting impact.

Posted on June 2, 2026. Article by Cynthia Steel, PhD, MBA.