Drs. Lori Wallrath, Professor of Biochemistry, and Arlene Drack, Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, received a generous philanthropic donation to establish the Wallrath Research Fund. This gift will support the joint research project between Dr. Wallrath and Drack which is focused on the generation and characterization of fruit flies that possess a mutation of a form of retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic blinding eye disease. The goal of this project is to allow researchers to better understand the disease and open new avenues for therapies. Part of the gift will support a graduate student focused on basic science research under the tutelage of Drs. Wallrath and Drack. 

The donor family has a strong interest in furthering vision research and hopes that their philanthropic support can help lead to new treatments for these types of rare genetic eye conditions in the future.