Seeing Science Through a Cellular Lens

Jillian Pearring, PhD, still remembers the moment she realized the eye could reveal some of biology’s most complex secrets. Drawn early to neuroscience and cellular biology, she found in vision science a field that connects the behavior of individual cells to how the human body interprets the world.

Originally from Colorado, she began her path into vision research during her undergraduate years in a vision science lab.

“The eye is one of the best examples of being able to take outside information and bring it into your body and transmit it,” says Dr. Pearring. That early experience sparked her fascination with photoreceptors, the cells responsible for detecting light and sending signals to the brain.

Now an assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center and head of the Pearring Lab, Dr. Pearring focuses on the photoreceptors essential for sight—cells profoundly affected in inherited blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

“There’s not really another cell in the human body like a photoreceptor,” explains Dr. Pearring. “They have distinct compartments for light sensing, energy production, genetic regulation, and communication. When any one of those systems is disrupted, it affects how the cell functions and survives.”

Her lab studies how different genetic mutations affect photoreceptors, taking a broad view of how these cells maintain function over time. While two people may share the same diagnosis, the cellular disruptions underlying their vision loss can differ. Understanding these differences, and grouping mutations by their effects on the cell, is essential for developing therapies that may benefit more individuals.

“I like to think of it as pathobiology—disease and biology coming together,” says Dr. Pearring. “The best way to learn how to fix something is to know how it works.”

Their lab uses advanced imaging and high-powered microscopes to study retinal tissue, zooming in on individual photoreceptor compartments to see how mutations alter their structure and function. Because photoreceptors cannot survive outside the eye, the team uses mouse models that preserve the full context of the retina.

Being embedded within an ophthalmology department is a major advantage, Dr. Pearring says. Regular interaction with clinician-scientists helps her team stay focused on translation, ensuring that discoveries at the bench ultimately inform therapies that help patients.

That translational connection is also what makes support from the Foundation Fighting Blindness especially meaningful. Receiving a Foundation grant, Dr. Pearring says, was a pivotal moment.

“As a discovery scientist, it feels amazing to have other people see how my work can help patients and be able to translate the findings we’re making in the lab to the next level,” says Dr. Pearring. “The Foundation is really at the forefront of bringing researchers together across the country and around the world to make a real impact for people with blinding diseases.”

Beyond funding, the Foundation has provided access to a global network of scientists focused on inherited retinal diseases. Through conferences and collaborations, Dr. Pearring has been able to share ideas, build partnerships, and push the field forward as part of a larger, united community.

Mentorship is another cornerstone of her work. Running a lab is like managing a small business, she notes, teaching students experimental techniques, critical thinking, and independence. Throughout her career, most of her mentors have been men, but she is proud to serve as a visible example for women entering the field.

“Seeing women leading labs, asking big questions, and driving discovery matters, especially on a day dedicated to celebrating women and girls in science,” says Dr. Pearring.

Dr. Pearring also values the chance to engage with young scientists on the front lines of discovery. Her lab is a place of constant learning, where students and postdocs explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of vision, test hypotheses, and generate data that could inform future therapies. “You get to see them grow and make new discoveries, and that’s incredibly rewarding,” she says.

She is energized by the rapid advances in technology that are reshaping research. Modern imaging, molecular biology, and genetics allow scientists to study processes from individual molecules to entire tissues, accelerating the development of potential therapies.

“The future of science is now—it’s happening right now,” says Dr. Pearring. “We have the resolution to see down to single molecules and cells, understand physiology between tissues, and consider how therapeutics can be delivered. This is the best time to be a scientist.”

Dr. Pearring’s work exemplifies the power of combining curiosity, mentorship, and translational focus. By understanding how photoreceptors function and why they fail, she and her team are building the knowledge that will guide future treatments for blinding diseases. Her work highlights not only the importance of discovery science but also the impact women in science have on shaping the future of medicine.

She will share her expertise with the Foundation community at United in Vision 2026, presenting during the Clinical and Research Updates: RP session on Saturday, June 13. For Dr. Pearring, every day in the lab brings new challenges, insights, and opportunities to push the boundaries of what is possible for patients with inherited retinal diseases.

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Foundation Fighting Blindness celebrates Dr. Pearring’s contributions, her mentorship, and the inspiration she provides to the next generation of scientists—proof that women in science are driving discoveries that can transform lives.