The Foundation Fighting Blindness has announced grants totaling $2.4 million in support of eight research projects aimed at identifying the causes of and providing treatments for retinal diseases.

The grants will support a range of efforts, including innovative gene therapies and cell transplantation, for diseases and conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, and Usher syndrome. Each of the eight research teams will receive $300,000 over three years.

"These eight grants are going to a truly outstanding cadre of scientists," said Stephen Rose, the foundation's chief research officer. "The funding will help [them] investigate several approaches to saving sight and provides strong momentum for moving treatments forward, out of the lab, and into the clinic."

For a complete list of the funded projects, visit the Foundation Fighting Blindness Web site.