Center for Translational Vision Research

Our Vision: Cure Blindness

Age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma are three of the most devastating blinding diseases in the developed world, affecting 4.2 million people.

Within the next decade, our world-renowned vision scientists at the UCI Center for Translational Vision Research (CTVR) will develop cures for inherited blindness through the innovative combination of gene therapy and noninvasive imaging. These groundbreaking cures for blinding diseases will not only correct vision; they hold the potential to revolutionize treatment for the broad spectrum of genetic diseases affecting other organ systems. The audacious pursuit of this goal is uniquely attainable at our Center, thanks to the outstanding leadership of our scientists, physicians and research staff who are recognized as global leaders in their respective fields.

TDue to the extremely high-level impact of the research conducted at the CTVR, the Center has been selected as one of only 12 research programs to be located in the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building.

In This New Facility

World-renowned scientists and clinicians will collaborate in custom-designed labs to translate revolutionary discoveries into cures.

Interdisciplinary teams will work side-by-side to model and understand blinding disorders, then develop and test therapies to benefit patients.

Tomorrow’s leaders will be trained by the very best in leading-edge science and medicine.

Indoor and outdoor gathering spaces for events, speakers and presentations will foster engagement and dialogue to speed and share discoveries.

Our Competitive Advantage

Empowered by the distinctive One Health approach of UCI Health Affairs that transcends disciplinary boundaries, the Center for Translational Vision Research comprises faculty and staff from the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences (which includes schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, population, and public health) and UCI Health, our regional healthcare delivery system, featuring the trailblazing Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. By fostering collaborative efforts among brilliant minds, our teams will surpass the limitations of working in isolation. This collaborative approach enables us to push the boundaries of innovation and make fundamental discoveries in the field of vision science.

The strength of the CTVR lies in a critical mass of multifaceted research laboratories, each concentrating on complementary aspects of retinal function and disease, ranging from structural biology and genetics to physiology and pharmacology. Dedicated investigators collaborate to model and understand blinding disorders, subsequently developing and testing therapies to benefit patients.

Bringing a team together in physical proximity where interactions and the free exchange of ideas take place, will accelerate the path to the clinic and commercialization.

UCI has already established itself as the global leader in the field, conducting research that significantly transforms the treatment of inherited eye diseases. Our ambitious goal is to develop cures for genetic causes of inherited blindness within the next decade, including Stargardt Disease, Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Retinitis Pigmentosa. Bringing together an elite group of investigators in one location, coupled with state-of-the-art facilities, will enhance our unique expertise in basic and medical genetics, contributing to the gene therapy revolution.

Innovative, Leading-Edge Programs

There are few interventions as transformational as restoring sight to the blind. In an era where healthcare coverage and costs are at the forefront of public debate and concern, it is vital to understand the magnitude of the economic burden of eye disease, which equates to approximately $139 billion per year for treatment and care. With your support, the UCI Center for Translational Vision Research can achieve its goal of restoring sight to people around the globe, reducing the financial impact of eye disease, and bringing widespread longevity and improved quality of life.

The UCI CTVR is recognized on the world stage for translating laboratory discoveries into life-changing clinical applications, and the next 10 years will be pivotal in visionary breakthroughs. Our dedicated teams are on the brink of discovering new therapies that will revolutionize vision care for patients in our community and beyond. We aim to restore hope to the millions of people robbed of their sight or progressing toward blindness, for whom virtually no effective treatment options exist today. To achieve this goal, we are focused on the two most promising areas of retinal research: gene therapy and noninvasive imaging.

Gene Therapy

Vision science leads the medical disciplines in pioneering gene therapy. Researchers have discovered ways to reverse and prevent cell degeneration. Presently, our team is working relentlessly to develop a method of guiding this therapy to specific cells in need of correction. The innovative approaches being pursued by the CTVR, once realized, have the potential to revolutionize the treatment not only for genetic disorders affecting vision but also for a broader spectrum of inherited disorders.

Noninvasive Imaging

Using a highly specialized imaging instrument called a two-photon ophthalmoscope, scientists at UC Irvine can study real time disease progression in live cells. This live imaging is unique to the CTVR. Use of a nondestructive, deeply penetrating long wavelength infrared laser beam allows for a deeper understanding of the natural biological processes at a subcellular level, leading to better diagnostic tools and more individualized treatment for our patients.

Our Legacy in Vision Research

Current Team

We have assembled, and will seek to expand, an exceptional group of scientists with a keen understanding of vision science to optimize research collaborations. Current faculty leadership:

Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD

Founding Director of the Genome Editing Research Program; Director of the Center for Translational Vision Research

Baruch Kuppermann, MD, PhD

Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Co-Director of the Center for Translational Vision Research

Andrew Browne, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology

Vladimir Kefalov, PhD

Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Ophthalmology; Professor, Physiology and Biophysics

Timothy Kern, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology

Philip Kiser, PharmD, PhD

Associate Professor of Physiology & Biophysics; Ophthalmology; Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Magdalene Seiler, PhD

Associate Professor in Residence, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Ophthalmology; Anatomy & Neurobiology

Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD

Assistant Professor, Physiology & Biophysics; Ophthalmology

Gulab Zode, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology, Physiology & Biophysics

Join Us in Making an Impact

We are seeking an elite group of philanthropic partners to establish a home for the UCI Center for Translational Vision Research in the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, who are passionate about fueling our transformational discoveries.

Named Spaces Within the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building

The overall design of the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building allows UCI to foster dynamic alliances that move discovery from inspiration to practice. There is the opportunity to name the new home for the CTVR, as well as custom-designed laboratories and gathering spaces. As a philanthropic partner, you will ensure our scientists have the space, resources and facilities needed to perform their life-changing work.

Endowed Research Grants

Research endowments play a pivotal role in sustaining our investigators, who are at the forefront of shaping the future of science and healthcare. External grants cover only a fraction of associated expenses, underscoring the importance of endowed funding in supporting innovative discoveries and pioneering approaches. Endowed grants bear special significance, offering the flexibility to pursue scientific avenues that lead to breakthroughs. Your generous support will enable this vital work to be carried out under the auspices of our philanthropic partners. Additionally, named endowed scholarships will further enrich the training of future generations of leading investigators and healthcare providers in perpetuity.

Endowed Chairs

By partnering with us as a philanthropic sponsor to name an endowed chair, you will establish a lasting connection between your legacy and UCI’s esteemed experts. Ultimately, advancements in biomedical research will drive the development of innovative therapies. Philanthropic contributions towards endowed chairs, research and scholarships ensure sustained support, facilitating the recruitment and retention of top-tier faculty who are instrumental in maintaining UCI’s status as a world-class center of excellence in emerging therapies. Endowed chairs are particularly impactful as they establish a perpetual annual funding stream, empowering the chair-holder to focus their efforts on groundbreaking research initiatives.