IOB brings major European grant to Basel for gene therapies against vision loss
After several years of interruption, ERC Consolidator calls reopened this year to researchers in Switzerland, and Bence György’s proposal was selected among 3121 applications from across Europe. Researchers who receive ERC grants are considered among the strongest in their fields. The ERC grant provides around EUR 2 million over five years to expand the research group, pursue long-term goals, and build international collaborations.
Vision loss is a growing health challenge that affects many and still lacks effective treatments. In macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of vision loss, the light-sensing cells in the centre of the retina gradually die. While current medicines can slow down the disease’s progression, they cannot prevent or stop it. This is why new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed.
György and his team at IOB are working to preserve vision by correcting the genetic defects that cause it to fade. His ERC project aims at taking this work further by refining the molecular tools that make such correction possible. The approach is called base-editing, a way of rewriting faulty genes directly inside living cells. Here, precision matters: György’s work focuses on making these edits cleaner, safer, and more targeted, especially in the delicate retinal tissue. One priority is tackling mutations linked to genetic forms of macular degeneration. Another is developing a treatment for specific types of corneal blindness, where base-editing is performed to regenerate the corneal surface and restore vision.
The ERC Grant is one of Europe’s most competitive research awards. It is a strong vote of confidence in György’s work and in the research conducted at IOB. For Basel, it sends a clear message: the city is becoming a magnet for world-class vision researchers with bold ideas and the determination to turn them into real treatments for patients.
Further links:
https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/erc-2025-consolidator-grants-results
