Houston Daily

The University of Houston has been granted $1.1 million by the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation to support research on Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting children that can lead to deafness and blindness. This donation is intended to enhance the work of biomedical engineering professors Muna Naash, Ph.D., and Muayyad Al-Ubaidi, Ph.D., in the Laboratory for Retinal Molecular and Cellular Biology and Gene Therapy at UH's Cullen College of Engineering.

This gift builds on a prior $1.6 million award from the National Eye Institute in 2023, furthering innovative gene therapy approaches for Usher Syndrome. The disorder impacts around 25,000 individuals in the U.S. and is known as the most common genetic condition worldwide affecting both hearing and vision in children.

UH President Renu Khator expressed gratitude for the foundation’s contribution: “The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation’s transformative gift will help accelerate treatments that improve vision and hearing for thousands.” Naash shared her motivation rooted in personal encounters: “Our work began more than two decades ago when I met a young boy who had lost his both his vision and hearing, and it made me realize just how precious those two senses are.”

Katherine Lorenz, president of CGMF, commented on their support: “We are honored to support Dr. Naash and Dr. Al-Ubaidi's groundbreaking work on Usher Syndrome... Rare diseases may affect small populations, but the impact on families is profound.”

Naash and Al-Ubaidi have been researching mutations in the USH2A gene crucial for inner ear and retina development since joining UH in 2015. They aim to elevate UH’s status as a Tier One research institution through strategic partnerships such as those with Texas Medical Center.

As UH nears its centennial celebration, this funding aligns with its Centennial Campaign goals to enhance world-class research efforts delivering real-world health solutions.