Philip Kiser, PhD, PharmD has been awarded the Career Advancement Award from RPB

Congratulations to Philip Kiser, PhD, PharmD, who has been awarded the Career Advancement Award from RPB to study the structure and physiology of a protein called cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP). This is a protein involved in important retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, but details of how it functions within the retina and retinal pigment epithelium have been difficult to address. Dr. Kiser and his team are using newly developed mouse models and advanced molecular simulations to get at these key questions. The work involves collaborations with Dr. Alvin Yu from the Department of Physiology & Biophysics as well as Dr. Vladimir Kefalov from the Department of Ophthalmology. The grant is for $150,000 and is active for two years.

Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) is the leading nonprofit organization supporting eye research directed at the prevention, treatment or eradication of all diseases that threaten vision.

The Career Advancement Award assists outstanding early-career vision scientists in pursuit of ongoing research of unusual significance and promise.

• This one-time award of $150,000 is available to candidates who have already received their first NIH R01 and are collecting new data to secure a second R01.
• The award is open to any Assistant or Associate Professors (MDs, PhDs, or MD/PhDs) with a primary appointment in a department of ophthalmology or any relevant department from any institution of higher education in the U.S.
• Candidates must have their first NIH R01 with at least one year remaining by the application deadline.

The fall cycle application deadline for the Career Advancement Award is July 1, with nomination forms due no later than June 15