5 impactful moments Pitt made possible in 2025

In 2025, the University of Pittsburgh community continued to push the boundaries of discovery, education and service, making an impact on lives across the region and around the world.

Pittwire compiled our favorite stories demonstrating all that Pitt made possible in 2025 - groundbreaking research, distinguished awardees, community-engaged job development programs and much more.

A cure for blindness, in sight

A team of Pitt researchers helped restore central vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration, one of the world's leading causes of blindness. The new retinal implant technology illustrates how translational research at the University can directly improve quality of life for patients.

"It's the first time that any attempt at vision restoration has achieved such results in a large number of patients," said José-Alain Sahel, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology in the School of Medicine and senior author of the study. "More than 80% of the patients were able to read letters and words, and some of them are reading pages in a book."

Read more about the breakthrough from Pitt Medicine and explore impactful research around the University.

Highly distinguished students

Thanks to resources like the Office of National Scholarships and Post-Graduation Success, Pitt students earned many nationally competitive honors this year in recognition of their academic excellence, leadership and public service.
Senior Sam Podnar, a Stamps Scholar who has amassed extensive experience in local and state politics during her time as a student, became the University's latest Truman Scholar in the spring and a Rhodes Scholarship finalist in the fall.

She was far from alone - along with maintaining its Fulbright Top Producer status, Pitt produced its first Luce scholar, multiple Critical Language scholars, a Goldwater scholar, several Gilman scholars, a Kanders Churchill Scholarship recipient and a Newman Civic fellow.

Advancing assistive technology

In the lab and in the community, Pitt people are working to help everyone fully participate in everyday life, regardless of ability.

Researchers in the Human Engineering Research Laboratory will lead a $41.5 million Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health project, a first for the University. The team will reimagine a wheelchair and assistive robotic arm that will improve the independence, safety and quality of life for people with disabilities, including veterans.

In May, we featured Pitt's Hand Cycle Assistance Team, who helped a dozen adaptive athletes cross the finish line with on-the-ground logistical and medical support at the Pittsburgh Marathon. And in the fall, University faculty, staff and students cleaned and repaired assistive devices for more than 150 community members during the annual wheelchair wash and tune-up.