Curing blindness is now within sight Advancing basic and translational research and creating pharmacological treatments to cure blindness. Welcome Message Our Brunson 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 BCTVR hosted a world-class Symposium, titled “Breaking Barriers: Trailblazing Innovations in Medical Research” on September 19, 2025. We were honored to organize this one-day event, which delved into the forefront of modern medical research and explored groundbreaking innovations. The symposium featured leading scientists from across the nation, including three Nobel laureates, a Presidential Early Career Award recipient, and other distinguished speakers, who shared their insights on opening new frontiers in medical research. Additionally, we hosted power meetings with prominent researchers, providing a platform for collaboration and exchange of ideas. VIEW EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Explore the Science Behind the Vision Get an inside look at the groundbreaking research happening within the Brunson 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 BCTVR. Watch the Videos Events Dec 19, 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series | William Spencer, PhD Dec 12, 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series | Jian-Xing Ma, MD, PhD Dec 5, 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series | Michael D. Dennis, PhD View All Events Researchers Sponsors Postdocs Students T32 VSTP 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 Dec 05, 2025 | UC Irvine News Stellaromics Establishes First U.S. Pyxa™ 3D Spatial Transcriptomics Site at UC Irvine UCI researchers have identified a promising therapy that could reverse age-related vision loss. Their study, published in Science Translational Medicine, shows that supplementing retinal fatty acids can restore vision in mice and may help prevent diseases like macular degeneration. The findings also suggest potential benefits for immune health and cancer treatment. Sep 26, 2025 | UC Irvine School of Medicine Reversing Age-Related Vision Decline UCI researchers have identified a promising therapy that could reverse age-related vision loss. Their study, published in Science Translational Medicine, shows that supplementing retinal fatty acids can restore vision in mice and may help prevent diseases like macular degeneration. The findings also suggest potential benefits for immune health and cancer treatment. 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. View All News Unique Two-photon Ophthalmoscope (2PO) The BCTVR 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 BCTVR 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