Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies
Our Mission
The Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies (ExpeRTs) facilitates the development, screening, and testing of novel retinal therapies that rescue or restore vision in people and animals.
Overview
ExpeRTs is actively engaged in multiple research projects relating to the inheritance of retinal degenerations in dogs, humans, and other mammals. These include efforts to identify the genes and locate the mutations associated with several separately inherited forms of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a significant disease of dogs that is also the genetic analog of retinitis pigmentosa, a group of retinal degenerations inherited in human families.
In parallel to these studies, the Division of ExpeRTs is involved in developing or applying novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of inherited retinal degenerations.
Our Research
Inherited retinal degenerative diseases are a major cause of blindness worldwide. In these conditions, photoreceptors, the cells responsible for transforming light into a signal that can be transmitted to and interpreted by the brain, are dysfunctional and/or slowly destroyed.
Veterinary ophthalmologists and vision scientists from the Division of ExpeRTs are dedicated to identifying the genetic causes of inherited blindness, delineating the mechanistic basis of genetic visual defects, and developing innovative and effective treatments to preserve or restore sight to the visually impaired.
Through the use of canine models, the group has contributed to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to disease, and is contributing to the development of novel therapies for both dogs and people.
Director, Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies
William A. Beltran, DVM, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Support the Division of ExpeRTs
With your support we can accelerate the development of new diagnostic tools and therapies for retinal blindness in animals and people.
Find Us
University of Pennsylvania
School of Veterinary Medicine
Hill Pavilion
380 S. University Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4539
New genetic cause of blindness in dogs (link is external)
In collaboration with a foundation that breeds service dogs for the visually impaired, researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Padova…
Dr. William Beltran named One of Eight Penn professors elected 2022 AAAS Fellows (link is external)
Eight faculty from four University of Pennsylvania schools have been elected 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. They are among more than 500 researchers honored for…
Dr. William Beltran Named Corinne R. and Henry Bower Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine
Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Vet) has named William Beltran, DVM, MSc, PhD,…