More than 5 million people worldwide suffer from inherited retinal diseases, leading to significant vision loss or blindness. Rui Chen, PhD, recently joined UC Irvine as a professor of ophthalmology, aiming to uncover the genetic causes of these conditions. His expertise will enhance UC Irvine’s Center for Translational Vision Research and the new Program in Precision Genome Editing. Chen uses advanced genetic techniques to identify mutations and develop targeted treatments, including gene-editing therapies, to benefit patients globally.