Advancing Research Solutions for
PRPH2-Associated Retinal Diseases
COLUMBIA, Md., May 22, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the driving
force in the global development of treatments and cures for
blinding diseases, has announced the recipients of the first awards
in the PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases (PARD) Program. These
grants mark a significant milestone in advancing research into
retinal diseases caused by mutations in the PRPH2 gene.
Following an extensive international call for proposals, the
Foundation has awarded nearly $1
million to two distinguished researchers: Andrew Goldberg, PhD, of Oakland University, and Yoshikazu Imanishi, PhD, of Indiana University. These awards are the first of
six anticipated grants to be distributed over three years through
the collaboration between the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the
Nixon Visions Foundation.
"These inaugural grants represent a significant investment in
cutting-edge research aimed at understanding and ultimately
treating PRPH2-related retinal diseases," says Amy Laster, PhD, senior vice president, science
strategy and awards at the Foundation Fighting Blindness. "By
funding these projects, we are accelerating progress toward
innovative therapies that could restore vision and improve the
quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions. This
is a pivotal moment in inherited retinal disease research, and we
are excited to see the transformative discoveries that will emerge
from this collaboration."
"We are proud to provide financial support to these exceptional
researchers in their pursuit of novel therapies for
PRPH2-associated retinal diseases," added Brandon Nixon, chief executive officer at the
Nixon Visions Foundation. "We look forward to the important
discoveries these initial grants will yield as part of our
foundation's multi-year PRPH2 research funding initiative. We are
committed to advancing the science that will lead to treatments and
cures for these diseases."
Mutations in the PRPH2 gene are a leading cause of retinal
degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa and certain macular
dystrophies. The focus of the research funded by these awards
include:
- Dr. Andrew Goldberg of
Oakland University – Natural History
and AAV-Mediated Interventions for Dominant Negative and
Haploinsufficient Mouse Models of PRPH2-Associated Disease. These
studies will provide thorough characterization of two mouse models
of PRPH2-associated disease and test whether providing a functional
copy of PRPH2 can prevent or slow disease progression.
- Dr. Yoshikazu Imanishi of
Indiana University – Elucidating
Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Advancing High-Throughput Drug
Discovery in PRPH2-Related Retinal Dystrophies. This study aims to
identify small molecules that can help mutant PRPH2 localize to
photoreceptor outer segments and to understand how rods and cones
are differentially affected by mutant PRPH2 protein.
The Foundation Fighting Blindness remains committed to driving
progress in retinal disease research through strategic partnerships
and targeted funding initiatives. With ongoing support from
visionary collaborators like the Nixon Visions Foundation, the
Foundation continues to champion innovative solutions that hold
promise for those impacted by blinding diseases.
The PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases Program, established
in partnership with the Nixon Visions Foundation, was unveiled in
March 2023 during a joint workshop
focused on PRPH2. This initiative emerged from a consensus among
retinal disease experts regarding critical research gaps within the
field:
- The need for a better understanding of PRPH2 basic biology,
including its differential role in rods and cones.
- The development of high-throughput assays to determine the
functional consequences of PRPH2 variants.
- The creation and characterization of accurate animal
models.
- An improved understanding of disease heterogeneity.
- Studies that demonstrate proof-of-concept for therapeutic
approaches, especially mutation-agnostic approaches.
About the Foundation Fighting Blindness
Established in 1971, the Foundation Fighting Blindness is the
world's leading private funding source for retinal degenerative
disease research. The Foundation has raised more than $915 million toward its mission of accelerating
research for preventing, treating, and curing blindness caused by
the entire spectrum of blinding retinal diseases including:
retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome.
Visit FightingBlindness.org for more information.
About the Nixon Visions Foundation
Nixon Visions Foundation is dedicated to the support of
organizations and individuals who are striving to reach their
potential. Based in San
Diego, the foundation provides scholarships and other
funding for education, science, and community programs. Its current
initiative is to provide meaningful support for scientific research
leading to critical treatments and, ultimately, cures for rare
inherited retinal degenerative diseases through partnerships with
the Foundation Fighting Blindness and UC San Diego Health's Shiley
Eye Institute, each targeting rare gene mutations such as those of
the PRPH2 gene. Visit www.nixonvisionsfoundation.org.
Media Contact:
Chris
Adams
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
CAdams@FightingBlindness.org
410-423-0585
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SOURCE Foundation Fighting Blindness