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, to develop innovative and accessible therapies that can ultimately restore vision for millions who have lost their sight or are at risk of blindness. News Oct 21, 2026 | UC Irvine School of Medicine Eye researchers at work on groundbreaking whole-eye transplant UCI Health researchers Kimberly Gokoffski, MD, PhD, and Frans Vinberg, PhD, are advancing research toward restoring vision through whole eye transplantation. Their work focuses on major challenges such as preserving donor eye function and reconnecting the eye with the brain, with the potential to also advance treatments for blindness today. Oct 21, 2026 | UC Irvine School of Medicine Renowned retina researcher joins Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research Internationally recognized retina researcher Frans Vinberg, PhD, has joined UCI’s Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research, bringing expertise in retinal biology and vision restoration. His research explores treatments for retinal disease, including ischemic vision loss, gene editing therapies and whole eye transplantation. Oct 02, 2026 | UC Irvine News Celebration of Madeline King's PhD Madeleine King successfully defended her PhD in Biochemistry, with research focused on developing safer and more precise genome editing technologies. Her work advances base and prime editing tools that could improve the accuracy of future treatments for genetic diseases. View All News Events Oct 23, 2026 Distinguished Speaker Series | Benjamin P. Kleinstiver, PhD Oct 30, 2026 Distinguished Speaker Series | Univ.-Prof. Dr. Uwe Wolfrum Nov 6, 2026 Distinguished Speaker Series | Lucie Y. Guo, MD PhD Nov 13, 2026 Distinguished Speaker Series | Tingting Yang, PhD Nov 20, 2026 Distinguished Speaker Series | Ren Ng, PhD View All Events October 8, 2027 Editing for Vision: How Foundational Biology Drives Genetic Therapies for the Eye BCTVR is pleased to announce its upcoming research symposium, "Editing for Vision: How Foundational Biology Drives Genetic Therapies for the Eye." This one-day event will explore how discoveries in basic biology are shaping the next generation of genetic therapies for eye disease. The program will open with a keynote lecture by Nobel laureate Dr. Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley and the Innovative Genomics Institute. 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 Researchers Sponsors Cores T32 VSTP Labs Distinguished Speaker Series Every Friday, 8:30 am-10:00 am PST, during Academic year, BCTVR 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 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