The Vision Research Group at The University of Texas in Houston (UT) has significant strength in the areas of Visual Neuroscience, Molecular Genetics, and Visual System Development. Core Grant support is requested for an Administrative Module and 3 service Modules, which reflect the breadth of these interests: an Imaging Module, a Molecular Resources and Services Module, and a Biostatistics and Computation Module. These Modules will provide expertise, research opportunities and infrastructure beyond the reach of individual faculty members. Core Grant support will encourage collaboration and support pilot projects leading to new research programs. Vision Research has been identified as an area for investment and development at UT and we provide documented evidence of institutional commitment to support our research effort. Specifically, the administration has provided funds to purchase a new confocal microscope (Zeiss LSM800 with Airyscan) to upgrade the Vision Core Imaging Module. Thus, significant resources, personnel and laboratory space have been committed to the Vision Research Group, a faculty group that crosses departmental lines. The Vision Research Group currently holds 8 qualifying NEI-supported R01s. In the last year, we recruited 2 new faculty members. Our new recruits were attracted, in part, by the outstanding facilities supported by the Vision Core Grant. In total, the Vision Research Group now consists of 15 vision scientists from the McGovern Medical School, the School of Public Health and the UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The members of the Vision Research Group receive approximately $4.4M (direct costs) of research funds annually. In 2015/16, the Vision Research Group received almost $3.8M in institutional support for salaries, new faculty and equipment. With the continued support of the Vision Core Grant, a further period of growth and innovative research may be expected for the Vision Research Group at UT.

Public Health Relevance

The UT Houston Core Center for Vision Research supports research activities of a diverse and highly collaborative group of vision researchers who are making important discoveries about the structure and function of the visual system. Areas of active research include the development and function of neural circuits in the retina, regulation of synaptic communication, circadian control of visual processes, processing of visual information in the cortex, the influence of sleep on behavioral performance, genetics of inherited eye diseases, and molecular mechanisms of retinal degenerative diseases. Both pre-clinical and translational discoveries made by the group will lead to improvements in treatments of visual disorders.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Center Core Grants (P30)
Project #
5P30EY028102-02
Application #
9552170
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZEY1)
Program Officer
Liberman, Ellen S
Project Start
2017-09-01
Project End
2022-06-30
Budget Start
2018-07-01
Budget End
2019-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2018
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Health Science Center Houston
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771594
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
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