Mapping Retinal Connections to Combat Retinitis Pigmentosa: A USC-led Initiative

A research team led by University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Utah has secured a $2.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to create detailed maps of retinal nerve connections, or "connectomes," to understand and eventually combat retinitis pigmentosa (RP). RP is a progressive genetic eye disease affecting about 2 million people globally, leading to blindness due to the gradual degeneration of retinal cells. By focusing on how nerve connections deteriorate through the four stages of RP, the team aims to uncover new strategies to slow or prevent vision loss.
Core Research Approach