About Us

Enhancing retinal research, UCI School of Medicine recruited Drs. Palczewski, Kern, and Kiser and their world-class retinal research programs to UCI in 2018 to establish the Center for Translational Vision Research (CTVR), later changed to Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research (BCTVR). This foundational investment brought internationally recognized expertise in visual biochemistry, phototransduction, and retinal disease, positioning UCI as a rapidly emerging leader in vision science.

As a result of the success of the existing faculty and the recruitment of new faculty, the NIH funding of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at UCI quadrupled from 2018 to 2021, boosting our ranking from the top 40 to the top 9 (based on Blue Ridge ranking data) among Ophthalmology departments in U.S. public institutions.

Since its founding, BCTVR has expanded into a highly interdisciplinary research center, bringing together experts across retinal biology, genetics and genomics, genome editing, stem cell therapy, bioengineering, artificial intelligence, and clinical vision science. The Center now integrates cutting-edge approaches such as lipid nanoparticle–mediated gene editing, retinal organoid transplantation, advanced in vivo imaging, AI-driven surgical innovation, and next-generation therapeutic development.

Today, the Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research represents a comprehensive and collaborative research ecosystem. Faculty work across the full translational pipeline—from fundamental discovery of disease mechanisms to the development of gene therapies, pharmacologic interventions, and regenerative strategies aimed at restoring vision.

With continued strategic investment in talent, infrastructure, and technology, BCTVR is uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of precision medicine in ophthalmology. The Center’s mission remains clear: to prevent, halt, and ultimately cure vision loss through transformative translational research.