The annual Dare to Discover campaign, sponsored by the Office of the Vice President of Research, showcases researchers, scholars, and creators from across the University of Iowa.
Among those featured in the 2025 campaign is Simran Sarin, a student in the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, whose research examines cornea transplant outcomes. Her faculty mentors from the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences are Dr. Mark Greiner, medical director of Iowa Lions Eye Bank, and Dr. Christopher Sales, assistant medical director at Iowa Lions Eye Bank.
Banners of those featured in the Dare to Discover campaign currently are located throughout downtown Iowa City. The banner that features Sarin is at the corner of Van Buren and Washington Streets.
Sarin’s research examines cornea transplant outcomes. Corneal transplants are the most frequent organ transplant procedure performed in the U.S., but the third leading cause for a corneal transplant is a repeat procedure due to graft failure. Sarin is analyzing local and international datasets to identify factors that may contribute to transplant failure and investigating how varying transplant techniques impact patient outcomes. She is also studying how Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy, the leading reason for corneal transplants in the United States, impacts patients’ ability to drive at night.
Sarin’s goal is to become a doctor who advocates for patients through evidence-based care and rigorous research. She aims to work on a global scale to expand access to medical care.
