# Core Grant for Vision Research

> **NIH NIH P30** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · $656,000

## Abstract

Overall Core
Abstract
The overall goal of this NEI Core Center Grant for Vision Research is to enhance the capabilities of vision
research scientists by facilitating easy access to equipment, training, and technical support that will expand
experimental capabilities, add rigor and reproducibility, result in more cost-effective and time-efficient research,
and open up new research directions. This Center will serve vision science researchers across the UT
Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) campus. It will also facilitate new research collaborations within the
institution, regionally, and nationally.
Our proposed NEI Core Center consists of three Resource/Service Modules, each directed by a faculty
member with experience and expertise in their unit’s focus area: 1) Stem Cell, Organoid and Cell Phenotyping
(Directed by Dr. Robertson), which will support the development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and
organoids relevant to the eye, and provide services for immunometabolic profiling; 2) Gene Editing and Virus
Production (Directed by Dr. Park), which will generate DNA/RNA constructs for use in mammalian cultures and
systems, and purify and concentrate both lentivirus and adeno-associated virus (AAV) for subsequent use in
immortalized, primary cultures and in animals in vivo; and 3) Microscopy and Animal Phenotyping (Directed by
Dr. Petroll and Dr. Wert), which will provide equipment, infrastructural support, expertise and technical
assistance to enable quantitative imaging of cells and tissues, as well as structural and functional assessment
of the visual system in vivo. In addition, the Administrative Module will develop and implement programs to
promote and foster collaborative projects between UTSW scientists and other researchers across campus,
within the region, and throughout the nation.
The Specific Aims of the Core Center are to enhance, streamline, and add scientific rigor to the research
activities of the participating vision scientists by: 1) Supporting the operation of the Resource/Service Modules
by managing usage and operations, providing skilled technical assistance, equipment maintenance, and the
purchase of supplies; 2) expanding the number of collaborative research projects between investigators both
within UTSW and between UTSW and other institutions; 3) creating a rich environment for developing vision
research programs of junior faculty members, and for new vision researchers recruited to the University; and 4)
providing resources and training to assist graduate students, medical students, and fellows with their research.
Overall, we anticipate that the Core Grant for Vision Research will impact the research programs of
participating vision scientists by: 1) expanding their research into new areas through the addition of novel
experimental techniques; 2) stimulating new collaborations with other potential Core Center users across
campus, regionally, and nationally; 3) improving research rigor, productivity and efficie...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10939298
- **Project number:** 2P30EY030413-06
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** W MATTHEW PETROLL
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $656,000
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10939298

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10939298, Core Grant for Vision Research (2P30EY030413-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10939298. Licensed CC0.

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