Foundation Fighting Blindness Invests $8.25 Million in Six Gene Therapy Research Projects Poised for Clinical Trials - MarketWatch COLUMBIA, Md., Oct 31, 2011 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- The Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing sight-saving research, announces an $8.25 million investment in six new gene therapy research projects that are targeted to have treatments ready for clinical trials within three years.

"The Foundation Fighting Blindness recognizes the great potential of gene therapy for saving and restoring vision, and we're eager to build on the clinical development of retinal gene therapies that has been accelerating at an incredible rate over the past few years," said Stephen Rose, Ph.D., chief research officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Portions of the Foundation's $8.25 million investment will also go toward research happening at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and the University of Florida for projects investigating gene therapy for two different LCA-causing genes. Currently supporting 30 other gene therapy efforts, including RDH12 and other genetic forms of LCA and RP, which are at various stages of development, the Foundation allocates funding toward basic research and investigation into a gene's role in disease, as well as projects poised for clinical trials.

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