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Grants awarded to NEI researchers
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Two National Eye Institute scientists were awarded grants from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation to research inherited retinal degenerations, according to a press release.
Robert Hufnagel, MD, PhD, and Oussama M’Hamdi, PhD, each received $65,000 toward their projects from the charity, which supports early career vision scientists who study the biology of pediatric blinding conditions.
M’Hamdi has identified mutations in a novel retinal gene that cause autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa, and Hufnagel is studying how photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium communicate.
“Funding of young investigators is crucial to sustaining research,” NEI Clinical Director Brian Brooks, MD, PhD, who leads the Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, where the awardees work, said in the release. “Generous funds today from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation is a down payment on tomorrow’s cures for pediatric eye diseases.”