Nixon Visions Foundation

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Nixon Visions Foundation

NVF is dedicated to the support of orgs and individuals who are striving to reach their potential.

06/02/2026

Last month, Corinne Nixon Vanderlinden, Jason Vanderlinden and Michelle Dugan had the honor of attending the Foundation Fighting Blindness Night for Sight Gala in New York City.
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The energy was electric, the stories were moving, and the sense of community was incredible. Every conversation, every handshake, every connection reinforced that community and fundraising drive meaningful progress toward ending blindness.

Events like Night for Sight are proof of what’s possible when our community truly comes together — and we are so grateful to be part of it.

To the Foundation Fighting Blindness, thank you for creating a space where hope, science, and human connection come together so beautifully. It was truly a night to remember. ✨

Picture 1: Jason, Corinne and Michelle stand together at a gala event. Jason on the left wears a dark blazer, Corinne in the center wears a light blue dress, and Michelle on the right wears a black halter dress. Warm ambient lighting and event decor with teal balloons are visible in the background.

Picture 2: Jason Menzo stands at a podium on a stage in a grand venue with vaulted brick ceilings illuminated by warm orange and blue lighting. Large screens on either side of the stage display the speaker’s image alongside the “Night for Sight” event logo, co-presented by Foundation Fighting Blindness and Two Blind Brothers. A full audience is seated at dinner tables in the foreground.

Picture 3: Bryan and Bradford Manning from Two Blind Brothers stand at a podium on stage, both smiling and clapping while delivering a speech.

05/04/2026

Nixon Vision Foundation’s Brandon Nixon and Shyamanga Borooah, MBBS, PhD, of UCSD’s Shiley Eye Institute, both attended the incredibly insightful Innovation Summit preceding the ARVO conference in Denver, co-sponsored by the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Casey Eye Institute. At this conference of scientists for scientists, Dr. Borooah was the opening speaker, updating colleagues on his novel A*O clinical trial addressing a mutation in the PRPH2 gene. Throughout the day, attendees learned about the latest developments in RNA, DNA, cell and gene-agnostic therapies. It’s an exciting time tackling treatments for the effects of rare inherited retinal diseases.

Picture Description:

Two men dressed in business attire flank an easel that holds a sign announcing the Innovation Summit. Dr. Shyamanga Borooah stands on the left and Brandon Nixon stands on the right.

04/25/2026

We proudly celebrate National DNA Day, which honors human genomic research and the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. This groundbreaking achievement paved the way for vital new research and opened pathways to developing treatments and potential cures for diseases once considered untreatable or incurable. Today, we recognize all recipients of the PRPH2 and Associated Diseases research awards, granted in partnership with the Foundation Fighting Blindness. 🧬

Our spotlight today is on our 2025 awardees:
Dr. Jason Comander, Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. As lead investigator, Dr. Comander, along with his team is investigating which of the 6000+ genetic changes in the PRPH2 gene cause vision loss. Using advanced cell tests and zebrafish models, they aim to identify problematic gene variants and understand how they lead to retinal degeneration, ultimately improving patient diagnoses and treatments.

Dr. Frauke Coppieters, Ghent University, Belgium. As lead investigator, Dr. Coppieters is working with her team to understand why symptoms vary widely among people with PRPH2-related eye diseases. By studying protein levels and genetic factors in patient cells, she and her team aim to understand these differences and test a new treatment approach using antisense oligonucleotides to correct genetic issues, potentially offering new therapeutic options.

Click on our link in bio to learn more about this amazing gene-related research focused exclusively on understanding PRPH2-related inherited retinal diseases. In addition, find out about the PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases Workshop coming up in September 2026 for scientists, clinicians, patients and family members. Registration is available through our link in bio.

04/07/2026

Today is World Health Day—Together for Health. Stand with Science. 🌎

Brandon and Janine Nixon celebrated health and stood with science at the Investing in Cures Summit 2026, presented by the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the RD Fund last month. This annual gathering represents what’s possible when scientific discovery meets strategic investment. The FFB and its RD Fund are moving the science forward, boldly and strategically, to treat and cure blinding inherited retinal diseases—and the future is bright! 💡

Join us in celebrating World Health Day!

08/22/2024

“Education can change lives”—this belief drives Kristina Bardhi, one of our 2024 scholarship recipients attending SDSU. Originally from Albania, Kristina came to the US as a refugee and is now a single mom of two, pursuing her dreams in philosophy, psychology, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Thanks to the Nixon Vision's Foundation and the San Diego Foundation record-breaking Community Scholarship Program, she sees a future full of hope and opportunity. Kristina’s journey is just beginning, and she’s committed to using this scholarship to make a lasting impact. 💥

08/05/2024

On July 21st, we had the incredible opportunity to join the San Diego Foundation at the San Diego Zoo for a wonderful scholarship celebration. Nixon Visions Foundation proudly partnered with the San Diego Foundation to fund several scholarships, and it was an honor to meet and speak with the talented recipients.

In this recap video, you'll meet Elizabeth, Carlo, Cameron, and Christina - their stories of determination and ambition are truly inspiring.

Stay tuned as we share more highlights and moments from this unforgettable event! 🌟

06/25/2024

Damon's dream was to be a professional baseball player until vision problems changed his course. In this video, he speaks about the incredible support he found within the PRPH2 grassroots community and how it brought connection into this part of his life.

Damon's journey highlights the importance of community and gratitude. His message about overcoming challenges and the power of a supportive network is inspiring!

06/17/2024

🌟 Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Goldberg 🌟

We are proud to feature Dr. Andrew Goldberg of Oakland University, an inaugural grant recipient of the new PRPH2 and Associated Diseases Program, established in partnership with the Nixon Visions Foundation and the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Dr. Goldberg’s research is making critical strides towards understanding and treating PRPH2-associated retinal diseases.

🔬 Project Overview:
Dr. Goldberg's project, "Natural History and AAV-Mediated Intervention for Dominant Negative and Haploinsufficient Mouse Models of PRPH2-Associated Disease," is at the forefront of genetic therapy. His work focuses on two types of mutations in the PRPH2 gene that lead to retinal degenerations: loss-of-function mutations causing insufficient protein for photoreceptor structure and dominant negative mutations that impair protein function.

💡 Groundbreaking Approach:
Through a meticulous natural history study of mouse models and subsequent trials of AAV-mediated gene therapy, Dr. Goldberg aims to not only halt the progression of these debilitating diseases but to also restore visual function. This innovative approach could provide a foundation for future therapies and offers hope for those affected by inherited retinal diseases.

We commend Dr. Goldberg for his dedication and are eager to support his continued research. His efforts exemplify the commitment of Nixon Visions to propel forward the development of effective treatments that can dramatically improve patients' lives.

Follow us for more updates on how Dr. Goldberg’s research progresses toward new possibilities in the fight against blindness. 🌐👀

06/12/2024

🌟 Spotlight: Dr. Yoshikazu Imanishi 🌟

Dr. Yoshikazu Imanishi of Indiana University is one of two distinguished recipients of inagural grants funded by the Nixon Visions Foundation in partnership with Foundation Fighting Blindness as part of its new PRPH2 and Associated Diseases Program. Dr. Imanishi's groundbreaking work is paving the way for significant advancements in the treatment of retinal diseases.

🔬 Project Focus:
Dr. Imanishi's project, "Elucidating Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Advancing High-Throughput Drug Discovery in PRPH2-Related Retinal Dystrophies," aims to deepen our understanding of PRPH2 gene mutations. These mutations are known to cause several dominantly inherited retinal diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa and macular dystrophies.

💡 Innovative Approach:
His research is focusing on improving how PRPH2 integrates into photoreceptor outer segments, essential for vision. By identifying compounds that enhance PRPH2 trafficking to these critical areas, Dr. Imanishi's work could lead to breakthrough therapies that restore vision and improve the quality of life for those affected by these challenging conditions.

We are looking forward to seeing the transformative discoveries Dr. Imanishi will make through his dedicated research. His work embodies our commitment to driving forward the science that will one-day cure blindness.

Stay tuned for more updates on this pioneering journey in vision health.

06/05/2024

Today we share a major milestone in our commitment to advancing vision research. The Foundation Fighting Blindness, in collaboration with Nixon Visions Foundation, has announced the recipients of the inaugural grants in the PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases (PARD) Program.

After an extensive international call for proposals, nearly $1 million has been awarded to two outstanding researchers:

🔬 Dr. Andrew Goldberg of Oakland University, for his project on "Natural History and AAV-Mediated Interventions for Dominant Negative and Haploinsufficient Mouse Models of PRPH2-Associated Disease."

🔬 Dr. Yoshikazu Imanishi of Indiana University, for his project on "Elucidating Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Advancing High-Throughput Drug Discovery in PRPH2-Related Retinal Dystrophies."

These grants represent a significant investment in cutting-edge research aimed at understanding and treating PRPH2-related retinal diseases. We are excited about the potential breakthroughs these projects could bring, which promise to restore vision and improve the quality of life for individuals affected by these conditions.

"We are proud to provide financial support to these exceptional researchers," said Brandon Nixon, CEO of Nixon Visions Foundation. "We look forward to the important discoveries these initial grants will yield as part of our multi-year PRPH2 research funding initiative."

Watch the video above featuring Jason Menzo, CEO of Foundation Fighting Blindness, to learn more about this exciting development and stay tuned for updates on this pivotal moment in inherited retinal disease research.

Learn more: https://www.nixonvisionsfoundation.org/news-events/inaugural-grants-awarded-in-prph2-research-program/

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PO Box 5000 PMB 236
San Diego, CA
92067

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http://www.nixonvisionsfoundation.org/

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