Translational Research CORE

Bridging discovery, surgical innovation, and translational testing in ophthalmology

The Translational Research Core, TRC, helps investigators move promising therapies, devices, and procedural ideas from early concept toward translational readiness. We work at the interface of surgery, preclinical models, functional assessment, engineering, and translational planning, providing a collaborative environment where scientific and technical advances can be developed into practical therapeutic strategies. TRC supports cell and gene therapies, implantable devices, regenerative approaches, delivery systems, and other projects that require more than a standard laboratory setting. 

What TRC does

TRC helps investigators turn promising concepts into well-designed translational studies. We support study planning, procedure development, preclinical testing, structural and functional assessment, data analysis, and clear interpretation so projects can move forward with stronger evidence.

A typical collaboration includes a defined project plan, milestone-based execution, traceable datasets, quality control, and clear visual and written summaries for decision making, presentations, manuscripts, or future translational development. 

Surgical innovation, procedure development, and instrument refinement

A major strength of TRC is the ability to develop and test surgical approaches under realistic preclinical conditions. This includes refinement of delivery workflows, evaluation of new instruments, and development of methods relevant to retinal and ocular translation, including subretinal, suprachoroidal, implant, and gene therapy delivery contexts. The goal is not only to perform procedures, but to make them more reproducible, more clinically relevant, and more informative for the next stage of development.

For surgeons and procedural innovators, TRC provides a setting to learn and refine surgical workflows, delivery strategies, and tool concepts relevant to future clinical application. For engineers and inventors, it provides a place to test whether a device or instrument remains effective when moved from the bench into a realistic ophthalmic procedural environment. 

Rigor, oversight, and translational planning

TRC projects are designed with current NIH, OLAW/IACUC, and FDA expectations in mind, at the level appropriate to the stage of the work. This includes attention to rigorous study design, clearly defined endpoints, reproducible methods, qualified personnel, humane animal care, traceable records, and documentation that can scale as a project moves from exploratory work toward later translational or regulatory needs. Work is planned with scientific rigor and regulatory fit in mind. 

TRIP: Translational Research Immersion Program

The Translational Research Immersion Program is a specialized collaboration option for individuals seeking an immersive experience within TRC. It offers clinicians, surgeons, scientists, trainees, and selected industry researchers the opportunity to spend 1 to 12 months embedded within TRC while remaining affiliated with their home institution. Participants join the core as temporary members and work on a defined project aligned with their goals. This may include learning specialized surgical techniques, testing a preclinical concept, developing a new procedure, building translational laboratory skills, or establishing a collaboration that would be difficult to create in a conventional laboratory setting.

TRIP is especially relevant for surgeon-scientists interested in translational methods, scientists seeking procedural or surgical training, and outside collaborators who need access to an environment where ideas can be tested under realistic preclinical conditions. Depending on project needs, participants may work with TRC surgical infrastructure, functional assessment platforms, animal support services, cell culture resources, and staff experienced in translational science and procedure development. 

Representative collaboration examples

Representative projects include cell or gene therapy programs that require improved delivery strategies and clearer endpoint design before the next stage of development, as well as new injectors, implants, or surgical accessories that need evaluation under realistic ophthalmic procedural conditions. TRC also supports projects involving translational surgical workflows, functional testing, and protocol development that may not be readily pursued in a standard laboratory setting. Across these efforts, TRC helps connect concept, execution, and translational relevance. 

Collaboration and funding pathways

Translational projects vary widely in scope, cost, and complexity, so TRC uses a flexible collaboration model tailored to the needs of each project. Depending on the stage and goals of the work, support may involve internal NEI or NIH resources, external grants, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, cost-sharing arrangements, licensing or commercial partnerships, and other collaborative mechanisms. This approach helps reduce financial barriers, make efficient use of shared resources, and support scientifically strong next steps

Who we work with

We work with NIH investigators, academic collaborators, clinician-scientists, surgeons, engineers, trainees, and selected industry partners who need a collaborative environment for translational ophthalmology, surgical development, functional assessment, and preclinical testing.