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Champalimaud Vision Award goes to gene therapy researchers
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The 2018 António Champalimaud Vision Award of 1 million Euros will be shared by seven researchers who have worked to develop gene therapy to treat Leber congenital amaurosis, according to a press release.
Team leaders Jean Bennett, MD, PhD, Albert Maguire, MD, Robin Ali, PhD, James Bainbridge, MD, PhD, Samuel Jacobson, MD, PhD, and William Hauswirth, PhD, will be recognized, along with T. Michael Redmond, PhD, who cloned the RPE65 gene and discovered the genetic cause of Leber congenital amaurosis.
The research being rewarded led to the development of Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl), the first gene therapy cure for an inherited disease.
The Champalimaud Vision Award is supported by the World Health Organization’s “Vision 2020 - the Right to Sight” program and this year recognizes major scientific breakthoughs in the understanding or preservation of vision.