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Words of admiration for a distinguished scientist whose career has spanned four decades filled Luibel Hall as faculty, staff and students honored Thomas Yorio, PhD, recipient of the prestigious Barany Prize.

Dr. Yorio, Provost, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Pharmacology & Neuroscience, will receive the award from the International Society for Eye Research in July.

At the recognition ceremony, UNT Health Science Center President Dr. Michael Williams, DO, MD, MBA,  honored Dr. Yorio for his outstanding accomplishments and the many contributions to research he has made over his career.

"Congratulations on receiving this great award," he said in a pre-recorded video. "We are so proud of you."

The Ernest H. Barany Prize is given every two years in recognition of a scientist’s contributions to research that have increased the understanding of ocular pharmacology directly related or applicable to glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration or related retinal diseases.

"This is indeed a distinction," said Meharvan "Sonny" Singh, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Abe Clark, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology and Immunology and Director of the North Texas Eye Research Institute, also spoke of Dr. Yorio’s many contributions to the advancement of eye research, saying, "What a great honor for him to be recognized."

After thanking the audience for the outpouring of well wishes, Dr. Yorio expressed his gratitude to the many people, including his wife, who have supported his work over the years. He ended by presenting the same lecture on corticosteroids and glaucoma that he will deliver at the XXI Biennial Meeting of the International Society for Eye Research.

"Science is a complex series of puzzles, and our job is trying to put the right pieces together," he said. "Thank you to those who help me solve the puzzles – students, postdocs, technicians and faculty."

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