The VSRC, directed by Irina Pikuleva, PhD, now comprises a multidisciplinary and comprehensive research program in vision and ophthalmology, with approximately 30 members in various Case Western Reserve departments including:
- Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Medicine
- Molecular Biology and Microbiology
- Neurology
- Neurosciences
- Nutrition
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
- Physiology & Biophysics
- Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
The Visual Sciences Research Center (VSRC) was founded at Case Western Reserve University in 1996. VSRC scientists focus on fundamental mechanisms in the retina as well as causes and treatment of acquired and inherited retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Stargardt disease, and retinitis pigmentosa. They also investigate normal and pathologic processes in the anterior segment of the eye (cornea, trabecular meshwork, and lens) and diseases such as glaucoma and formation of cataracts.
The mission of the Visual Sciences Research Center is to promote the study of basic and clinical problems of the eye and visual system that may lead to improvements in the prevention and treatment of major blinding disorders worldwide. Through a multidisciplinary and comprehensive research program in vision and ophthalmology involving both basic and clinical departments at Case Western Reserve University, the VSRC seeks to advance the visual sciences at the university and to promote its efforts to the scientific community.
The VSRC is supported by a National Eye Institute (NEI) funded P30 Core Grant (EY11373) directed by Irina Pikuleva and an NEI T32 Training Grant directed by Johannes von Lintig.