FFB funds nearly $3 million to research

Columbia, MD-Almost $3 million has been invested in nine research projects aimed at saving and restoring sight by the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

The foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board completed its annual grants review process, leading to the allocation of seven new $300,000, three-year grants which total $2.1 million.

The grants will focus on developing cross-cutting gene therapies, identifying new disease-causing gene mutations, and advancing potential treatments for dry age-related macular degeration.

Another $800,000 was awarded to two research efforts at the University of California, Berkley, which focus on optogenetic approaches to treat blinding inherited retinal diseases.

“Retinal diseases together affect more than 10 million Americans, and with an aging population, this number is growing,” said Stephen Rose, PhD, the foundation’s chief research officer. “The progress being made in research right now is remarkable; however, there is still a long way to go to secure the resources to significantly expand the portfolio of trials across the spectrum of retinal diseases.”

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