Ocular Genomics Institute
Department of Ophthalmology
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School
Eric Pierce, Director, and Director of Genetic Therapies
Janey Wiggs, Director of Genetic Diagnostics
Executive Summary
The primary goal of the Ocular Genomics Institute (OGI) is to translate the promise of personalized genomic medicine into clinical care for ophthalmic disorders.
We plan to achieve this goal via a combination of laboratory based translational research, application of modern genomic technologies to improve clinical genetic diagnosis and identification of new disease genes, clinical research directed towards clinical trials of novel genetic therapies, and provision of state-of-the-art clinical care for patients with ophthalmic genetic disorders. The OGI will also include training programs in ophthalmic genetics for medical students, graduate students and clinical fellows.
The progress in identification of the genetic bases of ophthalmic disorders such as retinal degenerations, and the successful proof of concept clinical trials of ocular gene therapy for the RPE65 form of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) demonstrate the tremendous potential to apply molecular medicine to ophthalmic disorders. Further, knowledge gained from application of genomic medicine to ophthalmic disorders will inform efforts to develop genetic therapies for disorders of other organ systems.
