The Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations

The Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations, of Harvard Medical School, continues multidisciplined research on retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration, and other related degenerative diseases of the retina. Results from ocular examinations of more than 12,000 patients are in a computerized data bank that provides an unusual resource for research on these diseases. More than 6,000 blood samples are on file for molecular genetics research.

Studies of Retinitis Pigmentosa and Macular Degeneration

New!

Findings Lead to Revised Therapeutic Regimen to Slow RP.

The Laboratory is presently conducting research that includes:

• Performing new randomized controlled study to see if a medication in addition to vitamin A can further slow the course of the common forms of retinitis pigmentosa.
• Making a concentrated effort to isolate the genes responsible for retinal degenerations.
• Studying laboratory models to define the mechanisms that lead to photoreceptor cell death.
• Evaluating other possible treatments for hereditary retinal degenerations. We have had some success in introducing a gene into retinal photoreceptor cells as a first step in gene therapy.
• Continuing to evaluate autopsy eyes with retinal degeneration to define the pathogenesis of these conditions at the cellular level.

The Laboratory also uses psychophysical and ERG measurements to assess patients with juvenile and age-related macular degeneration and retinal vascular diseases to detect early changes in retinal function that may, in turn, affect management of these conditions.

Retinal Diseases Under Investigation (2004)

The following retinal diseases are presently under investigation in the Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations:

1. Autosomal dominant forms of retinitis pigmentosa
2. Autosomal recessive forms of retinitis pigmentosa
3. Sex-linked (X-chromosome-linked) forms of retinitis pigmentosa
4. Isolate (simplex) forms of retinitis pigmentosa
5. Progressive cone-rod degeneration
6. Atypical forms of retinitis pigmentosa
1. pericentral
2. paravenous
3. unilateral
4. unclassified
7. Some syndromes or diseases of which retinitis pigmentosa is a part
1. Usher syndrome, type I, type II and type III
2. Laurence-Moon-Bardet-Biedl syndrome
3. Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome
4. Refsum disease
5. Kearns-Sayre syndrome
6. Hereditary cerebroretinal degenerations
7. Olivopontocerebellar atrophy
8. Congenital amaurosis of Leber
9. Sex-linked choroideremia
10. Generalized choroidal sclerosis
11. Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina
12. Retinitis punctata albescens
13. Cone degenerations
14. Hereditary macular degenerations including Stargardt disease, fundus flavimaculatus, central areolar choroidal dystrophy, and Best vitelliform macular dystrophy
15. Autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive,and sex-linked forms of stationary night blindness
16. Congenital rod monochromacy and blue cone monochromacy
17. Juvenile sex-linked retinoschisis
18. Retinal vascular diseases
1. central vein occlusion
2. diabetic retinopathy
19. Age-related forms of macular degeneration
20. Drug-induced retinopathies
21. Paraneoplastic retinopathies

Contact Information

Director

Eliot L. Berson, M.D.,
William F. Chatlos Professor of Ophthalmology
Harvard Medical School

Investigators

• Robert J. Brockhurst, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
• Alexander R. Gaudio, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
• Tiansen Li, PhD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Neurobiology
• Bernard Rosner, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Consultant in Biostatistics
• Michael A. Sandberg, PhD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Electrophysiology
• King To, MD, Research Associate in Ophthalmology, Pathology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Telephone

617-573-3600

page updated: 11/02/04