Curing blindness is now within sight Advancing basic and translational research and creating pharmacological treatments to cure blindness. Welcome Message Our Center for Translational Vision Research at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute serves as an international leader in advancing research and bolstering the support of investigators pursuing basic and translational sciences relevant to vision. We are bringing together exceptional scientific expertise from within the University, the School of Medicine and other schools, and complementary research programs to advance collaborations that focus on fundamental discoveries in vision research with translational potential. We aim to integrate basic and clinical research, including genetics and pharmacology, in order to develop innovative and accessible therapies for millions robbed of their sight or progressing toward blindness. Breaking Barriers: Trailblazing Innovations in Medical Research Symposium September 19, 2025 CTVR is hosting a world class Symposium, titled: "Breaking Barriers: Trailblazing Innovations in Medical Research” on September 19, 2025. We are honored to organize this one-day event, which will delve into the forefront of modern medical research and explore groundbreaking innovations. Our symposium will feature leading scientists from across the nation, including three Nobel laureates, a Presidential Early Career Award recipient, and other distinguished speakers, who will share their insights on opening new frontiers in medical research. Additionally, we are planning to host power meetings with the prominent researchers, providing a platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas. REGISTER HERE! Explore the Science Behind the Vision Get an inside look at the groundbreaking research happening within the Center for Translational Vision Research. Hear directly from our faculty as they share the goals, impact, and innovation driving their work. These stories highlight the collaborative spirit and scientific excellence at the heart of CTVR. Watch the Videos Center for Translational Vision Research becomes an Organized Research Unit Per UCI, an Organized Research Unit (ORU) is an academic unit established by the University to provide a focused and supportive infrastructure for inter-, cross-, and multi-disciplinary research complementary to the academic goals of departments and schools. The functions of an ORU are to facilitate research and research collaborations; disseminate research results through research conferences, meetings and other activities; strengthen graduate and undergraduate education by providing students with training opportunities and access to facilities; and carry out university and public service programs related to the ORU's research expertise. The Director of an ORU, who must be a tenured faculty member, is appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Research. Directors are generally appointed for a five-year term with the possibility of reappointment, and report to the Vice Chancellor for Research. The establishment of ORUs is quite rare at UCI. In 2016, the Vice Chancellor for Research revised the guidelines and introduced the PrORU mechanism. CTVR is the first to transition from a PrORU to a full ORU under these new guidelines. The last two ORUs were established in 2013 and 2021. Events Oct 3, 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series | Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD Sep 26, 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series | Yang Sun, MD, PhD Sep 12, 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series | Robert N. Weinreb, MD View All Events Researchers Sponsors Postdocs Students Community CTVR is Awarded Space in the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building CTVR interdisciplinary research program has been selected for the new building and adjacent space! At 215,000 square feet, the building is slated to be the largest interdisciplinary discovery and translational research hub on the West Coast. Scheduled to open in 2025, it is made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Adeline Mah, MD, and Robert Mah, PhD, through their Falling Leaves Foundation.The Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building is an embodiment of our collaborative One Health alliance, bringing together talent from across Health Affairs and attracting new recruits from around the globe. It will empower our clinicians and scientists to cure blindness, unlock breakthrough cancer treatments, revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders, and harness genetics, proteomics and cutting-edge technologies to treat rare diseases and prevent common illnesses. Read More Distinguished Speaker Series Every Friday, 8:30 am-10:00 am PST, during Academic year, CTVR hosts worldwide research seminars on the groundbreaking research topics ranging from ophthalmology, genetics, biochemistry, neurobiology, imaging, computational sciences to novel ophthalmic treatments. This seminar series showcases the Vision Science Program and engages our colleagues from UCI, the region, the nation and beyond. Please join us! Learn more About Friday Seminars News Sep 03, 2025 | UC Irvine News $15 Million Gift Names and Supports UC Irvine’s Center for Translational Vision Research The University of California, Irvine has received a $15 million gift from the Brunson Foundation, led by James and Cynthia DeBoard, in honor of philanthropist Robert M. Brunson. The gift will name the Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research and provide long-term support through a $10 million endowment. An additional $5 million will complete construction of the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building, where the center will be housed. Under the leadership of Dr. Krzysztof Palczewski and Dr. Baruch Kuppermann, the center is dedicated to advancing treatments and cures for blinding diseases. Sep 02, 2025 | UC Irvine School of Medicine New TIGER Mouse Model Helps Advance Genetic Medicine UC Irvine researchers have developed a new model for investigating precision-genome editing, helping advance methods to address many inherited and environmental disorders. Jul 01, 2025 | Center for Translational Vision Research Dr. Baruch D. Kuppermann Receives 2025 Roger Steinert, MD Legacy Award at Octane OTF Congratulations to Dr. Baruch D. Kuppermann, Chair of UCI Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, on receiving the 2025 Roger Steinert, MD Legacy Award at Octane’s Ophthalmology Tech Forum. View All News Unique Two-photon Ophthalmoscope (2PO) The CTVR boasts having the two-photon ophthalmoscope (2PO) instrument for humans, a next-generation technology that could accomplish in-depth, real-time views of disease progression. It is the only one in the country and only one of the two in the world. This live imaging with 2PO excitation can help provide patients more individualized treatment by using a nondestructive, deeply penetrating long-wavelength infrared laser beam. The application of 2PO simultaneously exceeds and complements the capabilities of optical coherence tomography and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, two of the techniques currently used clinically to image retinal diseases. Read Full Article CTVR Publication Library We strive to make our research available to benefit and transform society and improve people's lives. Full List of Publications Highlighted Publications Below is a selection of our most recent publications. Rationally Designed, Short-Acting RPE65 Inhibitors for Visual Cycle-Associated Retinopathies Bassetto M, Hu Y, Li B, Chen X, Saraswat V, Damacio F, Smidak R, Palczewski K, Tochtrop GP, Kiser PD.J Med Chem. 2025 Aug 5. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5c01353. Online ahead of print.PMID: 40764714 MFRP is a molecular hub that organizes the apical membrane of RPE cells by engaging in interactions with specific proteins and lipids Tworak A, Smidak R, Rodrigues Menezes C, Du SW, Suh S, Choi EH, Imanishi SS, Dong Z, Lewandowski D, Fong KE, Grigorean G, Pinto AFM, Xu Q, Skowronska-Krawczyk D, Blackshaw S, Imanishi Y, Palczewski K.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Apr 22;122(16):e2425523122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2425523122. Epub 2025 Apr 18.PMID: 40249779 Free PMC article. Engineered nucleocytosolic vehicles for loading of programmable editors Geilenkeuser J, Armbrust N, Steinmaßl E, Du SW, Schmidt S, Binder EMH, Li Y, Warsing NW, Wendel SV, von der Linde F, Schiele EM, Niu X, Stroppel L, Berezin O, Santl TH, Orschmann T, Nelson K, Gruber C, Palczewska G, Menezes CR, Risaliti E, Engfer ZJ, Koleci N, Schmidts A, Geerlof A, Palczewski K, Westmeyer GG, Truong DJ.Cell. 2025 May 15;188(10):2637-2655.e31. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.015. Epub 2025 Apr 9.PMID: 40209705 Free article. The multifaceted roles of retinoids in eye development, vision, and retinal degenerative diseases Engfer ZJ, Palczewski K.Curr Top Dev Biol. 2025;161:235-296. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.10.003. Epub 2024 Oct 23.PMID: 39870435 Review. Impaired axonal transport contributes to neurodegeneration in a Cre-inducible mouse model of myocilin-associated glaucoma. Insights into the Activation and Self-Association of Arrestin-1 Salom D, Kiser PD, Palczewski K.Biochemistry. 2025 Jan 21;64(2):364-376. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00632. Epub 2024 Dec 20.PMID: 39704710