20+ Years of Journey
in a Glance
transitioning from
blindness to sight.
Transforming
lives of children
Jan 2002
THE SPARK
Pawan Sinha, MIT professor, meets two blind children in Delhi.
Inspired to merge scientific curiosity with social service,
seed of Project Prakash is planted.
June - July 2002
GROUND REALITIES
Visits rural India to assess the state of untreated childhood blindness.
Realizes the urgent need for pediatric outreach
and the potential for scientific discovery.
June - July 2003
PARTNER SEARCH
Tours eye hospitals across India seeking medical collaboration.
Final day: connects with Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital (SCEH), New Delhi—ideal partner found.
Aug - Oct 2003
VISION TO ACTION
Submits proposal to the National Eye Institute (NEI), NIH.
Begins obtaining IRB clearances in India and the US.
Project Prakash takes shape with 3 pillars:
rural outreach, medical treatment, and research.
2004 - 2006
FIELDWORK & BREAK-THROUGHS
Launches pediatric screening camps in rural North India.
Identifies treatable blind children and begins visual development research.
Featured in Nature magazine, signaling scientific relevance.
Submits a significant grant proposal to NEI—funding secured for 5 years.
2007 Onwards
SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS & HUMAN IMPACT
Ongoing studies on how children learn to see post-treatment.
Answers to Molyneux’s Query—a centuries-old question in neuroscience.
Work published in major journals and highlighted in popular science media.
Trains a new generation of scientists.
