Nina Bögershausen, Gökhan Yigit, Alisa Fedorenko, Rozhin Bayati, Patricia Döring, Maximilian Gerhardt, Carolin Strohmeyer, Oscar Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, Behnam Javanmardi, Marianne Gaubert, Emrah Kaygusuz, Peter Krawitz, Marius Ueffing, Hans Hoerauf, Nicolas Feltgen, Stylianos Michalakis, Hildegard Büning, Lukas Cyganek, Bernd Wollnik
Advancing the development of specific gene therapies for rare genetic eye disorders is a major challenge in modern translational vision research. It requires integrated clinical, molecular, mechanistic, and regulatory expertise, yet these aspects are often addressed in isolation. Combining complementary skills, knowledge, and expertise within an integrated, highly interactive research framework has the capacity to drive and advance therapeutic development. Moreover, early-stage involvement of patients and targeted clinical observation, alongside molecular and therapeutic research, potentially enable clinical trial readiness and support the translation of preclinical therapeutic innovations into clinical care. In this Perspective article, we present the InsightRP2 framework, an integrated translational strategy that incorporates clinical data, artificial intelligence-supported imaging analysis, experimental disease modeling, and adeno-associated virus design with the aim to facilitate the development of a targeted gene therapy for RP2-associated retinitis pigmentosa.