About
Lions Gift of Sight (LGS) is a community-based non-profit eye bank. Founded in 1960, LGS serves the needs of donors in Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and North Dakota, as well as Galveston, Texas, 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year, recovering, processing, and distributing eye tissue for transplant, as well as research and medical education.
As part of the University of Minnesota, a top-tier research institution, LGS places supreme emphasis on our research mission and has a dedicated Research and Development department. We partner with the top AMD researchers in the world and contribute to research on glaucoma, diabetes, and other sight-related issues.
With the onset of COVID-19, LGS turned our already-robust research program to the study of the virus. We are conducting several COVID-related research endeavors, including a study to test whether SARS-CoV-2 can infect ocular cells and transmit COVID-19 via donor tissues. The results of this study will have ramifications for eye banking for years to come. The University of Minnesota has a Biosafety Level 3 lab that is designed to safely handle and store human infectious agents or toxins, including COVID-19. Partnering with virologists at this BSL-3 has helped establish LGS as a national leader in COVID research on the eye.
LGS is proud to be associated with Lions Clubs International and supported by the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We owe thanks to both this foundation and the EBAA for funding support on COVID research.
