As part of his focus on macromolecular phenomena, Muthukumar, the Wilmer D. Barrett Distinguished Professor in Polymer Science and Engineering, studies proteins in the lens of the human eye. His research has led to technology that holds the promise of revolutionizing the treatment of cataracts and presbyopia (the hardening of the lenses that makes it difficult to read small print as we age). UMass Amherst recently licensed this technology, based on the work of Muthukumar and former graduate student Ben Mohr ’09G, ’13PhD, to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary. The company plans to use the findings to combat cataracts and/or presbyopia.