# Research Training Program in Vision Science

> **NIH NIH T32** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 2024 · $214,876

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
A mentor group of 12 senior, mid-level and young investigators, including 6 new members, each with
experience in training and with active and competitive research programs, propose to continue a Training
Program in Vision Science at the Medical College of Wisconsin for another 5 years. The request is for support
for 6 pre-doctoral trainees annually. The goal remains to prepare trainees for careers in vision research. This
requires that students have a broad appreciation of the major features of the visual system, a contemporary
understanding of the diseases that impact vision, and state-of-the-art skills for experimental work in the visual
system. It also requires that trainees acquire the analytical and communication skills necessary to succeed in a
multidisciplinary research environment. Our highly collaborative mentor group provides expertise in multiple
aspects of the visual system, including: the mechanisms of ocular disorders (ranging from early onset pediatric
phenotypes to adult onset degenerative disorders, diabetic retinopathy and myopia); development of diverse
disease models for functional studies; retinal circuitry and its development; gene therapy and editing; nuclear
magnetic resonance methods, with X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations; and ocular
coherence tomography and adaptive optics. Pre-doctoral trainees will complete a core curriculum including
fundamental topics in Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, Neurobiology, Biophysics, Physiology and Cell Biology.
In addition, students receive training in “Instructional Program in the Responsible Conduct of Research” and
"The Biology of Vision" as a prelude to conducting dissertation research. All students will have the opportunity
to enroll in the Clinical and Translational Science certificate program, which includes additional training in
translational research. All trainees in mentor labs will also participate in a monthly Vision Science Forum, the
Distinguished Lecture Series in Vision Science, an annual T32 Student Symposium and other events. New
features of the program include: a Young Investigator Seminar Series, uniquely designed to allow our trainees
to interact with trainees in other vision programs around the world; an annual off-campus Vision Science Retreat
uniting basic and clinical research performed at MCW; expanded opportunities for interactions with the clinical
enterprise; and an enhanced focus on modern approaches. Internal and External Advisory Committees (IAC and
EAC) will continue to provide additional guidance, and we are excited to resume their in-person visits that were
impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The IAC will include some new members, including a senior graduate student
representative, further improving mentor-trainee communications and feedback as well as enhancing the overall
transparency of the program. In summary, we are committed to training a diverse cadre of PhDs and our
trainees are unquestionably prepared to l...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10847605
- **Project number:** 2T32EY014537-21
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Elena V Semina
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $214,876
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2002-09-30 → 2029-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10847605

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10847605, Research Training Program in Vision Science (2T32EY014537-21). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-07 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10847605. Licensed CC0.

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