PHILADELPHIA -- Gustavo D. Aguirre, professor of medical genetics and ophthalmology in the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has been named a Distinguished Fellow by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

ARVO Fellows are recognized for accomplishments, leadership and contributions to the advancement of vision research and the prevention and cure of disorders of the visual system worldwide, as well as their service as role models and mentors.
Aguirre’s research focuses on identifying the genetic causes of inherited blindness, identifying the mechanisms linking mutation to disease and developing treatments.

Aguirre employs phenotype-directed candidate gene analysis, directing a selection of candidate genes that, when mutated, could be expected to result in blindness. His laboratory also analyzes canine pedigree resources to carry out genome wide scans to identify the chromosome that carry inherited blindness. He mostly recently demonstrated that a gene therapy used to restore retinal activity to the blind also restores function to the brain's visual center, a critical component of seeing.

The ARVO fellows will be officially inducted at the association’s annual meeting in May.

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