Bill Hauswirth, the Rybaczki-Bullard Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, was selected to receive the 2018 Antonio Champalimaud Vision Award for his contribution towards developing the first successful gene therapy to cure an inherited human disease. The disease, Leber congenital amaurosis Type 2, or LCA 2, is caused by a genetic defect. The 1 million euro (approximately $1.2 million) award from the Portugal-based D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud and Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud Foundation is shared with University of Pennsylvania and University College of London researchers.