Eliot L. Berson, MD

Eliot L. Berson, MD, leader in the field of inherited retinal diseases, died on Mar. 19, 2017 at the age of 79.

Dr. Eliot L. Berson, was founding director of the Berman-Gund Laboratory for the Study of Retinal Degenerations, where his discoveries laid the foundation for understanding retinitis pigmentosa, and lead the way for new therapies for these disorders.

He was also distinguished professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and senior scientist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear.

In the 1960s he discovered that Electroretinography (ERG) could detect photoreceptor dysfunction early in life, prior to visual deterioration. Dr. Berson subsequently led research showing that dietary supplementation with Vitamin A, omega-3s and antioxidants could slow visual loss from the disease.

In the 1990s, he co-discovered the first genetic defect associated with retinitis pigmentosa, a point mutation in the rhodopsin gene. Further investigations yielded 20 more causative mutations for RP and other retinal degenerations, paving the way for research into possible treatments. 

His most recent research involved safety and efficacy studies of investigational gene therapies in animal models of hereditary retinal degenerations.