07/28/2026
For more than four decades, the Clinical Eye Research Unit (CERU) has helped bring promising vision therapies from the research stage to patients. Today, the unit is expanding its reach, conducting increasingly complex clinical trials and opening new opportunities for patients with sight-threatening conditions.
This past year, CERU has conducted several important trials focused on inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), a group of rare genetic disorders that can lead to progressive vision loss and blindness. Many of these studies are exploring innovative approaches such as gene and stem cell therapies for inherited retinal diseases, as well as new treatments for choroidal and uveal melanoma.
“We’re also seeing a research shift toward novel, systemic therapies for various ophthalmic conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, including oral and subcutaneous medications, rather than relying solely on ocular treatments such as intravitreal injections.” said CERU Director Mihai Mititelu, MD, MPH, FASRS.
Beyond industry-sponsored trials, CERU helps faculty researchers transform their own scientific ideas into clinical studies. The unit provides guidance on study design, regulatory requirements, project management, and funding strategies.
“In 2026, several members of the DOVS research team collaborated to develop a guidebook specifically dedicated to our faculty investigators,” said CERU Manager Angie Adler. “This resource is designed to help researchers navigate the many steps involved in transforming a research idea into a properly funded and well-executed investigator-initiated clinical study.”
The CERU is also helping train the next generation of clinician-scientists. In June 2026, the department launched the inaugural, combined one-year pre-residency research fellowship focused on ophthalmic imaging and clinical research, provided through a partnership between the Wisconsin Reading Center (WRC) and CERU . Through the WRC, fellows have historically gained advanced training in retinal imaging technologies, as well as in grading, data analysis, and interpretation.
Together, these efforts reflect CERU’s continued evolution as a leader in clinical research, expanding opportunities for patients, investigators, and future physician-scientists alike.
FY 2025-26 Highlights:
16 actively recruiting trials
14 ongoing trials
15 investigator-initiated projects
30 collaborative projects and participation in databases