CDI has always felt like home to me, so returning here to work alongside this exceptional team was an easy decision. Partnering with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to develop a consortium is an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am eager to learn from the best in the field. - Latrice Faulkner, PhD
Latrice Faulkner, PhD, is bringing her skills and expertise to dual roles as a program manager for CDI, and the administrative manager for the new Mary Tyler Moore (MTM) Vision Consortium.
Born in Chicago and raised in Southfield, Michigan, Dr. Faulkner has cultivated an extensive background in leadership, administration, and strategic management. With a strong foundation built through a two-year fellowship at the University of Michigan in Research Operations, Management, and Strategy, she has developed core competencies crucial for high-impact roles within both academic and biomedical institutions.
Dr. Faulkner has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to diabetes research, a passion that aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision). This initiative focuses on Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD), a complication of diabetes that requires more awareness and research support. By providing thought leadership and critical path research resources, the MTM Vision initiative catalyzes breakthroughs in this area. The initiative strives to eliminate barriers to progress and foster collaboration with global academic and industry partners, all dedicated to discovering cures and preventive strategies for vision loss and blindness from diabetes. At the University of Michigan’s Caswell Diabetes Institute, a hub for the MTM Vision Consortium, Dr. Faulkner will significantly contribute to these critical efforts.
"CDI has always felt like home to me, so returning here to work alongside this exceptional team was an easy decision. Partnering with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to develop a consortium is an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am eager to learn from the best in the field. The MTM Vision Consortium represents a beacon of hope for those affected by one of diabetes' most debilitating complications: vision loss. By bringing together academic and industry researchers, this consortium will offer unparalleled access to critical research resources that are pivotal for identifying and validating new therapeutic targets at the molecular and cellular levels, utilizing human tissue, and validating biomarkers and endpoints to expedite new drug development and FDA approvals. This collaborative effort is key to advancing science from the laboratory to the patient bedside, ultimately aiming to provide innovative methods to preserve and restore vision in people with diabetes. This mission alone motivates me to work tirelessly for our shared success."
Outside the professional realm, Dr. Faulkner enjoys playing the cello, volleyball, and softball. She is also dedicated to community service, contributing to STEM education through the University’s SEEK Physiology program for underrepresented elementary students. Most recently, she participated in the Michigan Medicine Operation Opportunity Careers in Healthcare Panel, a program that provides professional skill development and exposure to a wide variety of health careers at Michigan Medicine for highly motivated Wayne-Westland High School students.
Dr. Faulkner is excited to bring her extensive expertise and passion to advance the missions of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Consortium and the Caswell Diabetes Institute. We're grateful to have Dr. Faulkner on the CDI team and look forward to learning more about this important work.