UC Irvine Center for Translational Vision Research achieves ORU status

The UC Irvine Office of Research’s officially announced last week that the Center for Translational Vision Research (CTVR) has achieved the prestigious Organized Research Unit (ORU) status at UCI. This significant milestone, reached after five years of effort, marks a new era for the center that emphasizes its dedication to advancing vision research.

CTVR is led by Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD, distinguished professor and Irving H. Leopold Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Baruch D. Kuppermann, MD, PhD, Steinert Endowed Professor, chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute.

The need for breakthroughs in vision care is immense, with conditions like age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma affecting 4.2 million people globally and costing $139 billion nationally. Dr. Palczewski highlights the next decade as crucial for discovering new therapies that could transform vision care worldwide.

CTVR is committed to translating scientific discoveries into treatments. Researchers focus on gene therapy and noninvasive imaging, using a two-photon ophthalmoscope to study live cells without damage. This approach leads to better diagnostics and individualized treatments.

CTVR is also pioneering gene-editing technology to correct genetic mutations causing retinal diseases. Successful gene editing in animal models has shown promise for conditions like retinitis pigmentosa and Leber congenital amaurosis. Efforts are now expanding to glaucoma, with significant progress in animal studies.

The CTVR genome editing research program aims to advance gene therapies for various inherited diseases, leveraging UCI's leadership in genome editing. The goal is to apply this technology to inherited diseases beyond the eye.

The center will occupy 30,000 square feet in the state-of-the-art Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, equipped with cutting-edge labs and advanced equipment, fostering collaboration and innovation in sight-preserving technologies. CTVR looks forward to groundbreaking advancements and life-changing treatments emerging from its new home and remains committed to transforming vision care.