Eric Pierce Discusses IRD Research in in Havard Gazette 

February 4, 2026

Eric Pierce (Mass Eye and Ear) was featured in the Harvard Gazette discussing his recent study on inherited retinal degenerations. The research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, challenges the assumption that genetic variants causing inherited retinal degenerations inevitably lead to vision loss. Using data from large biobanks, Eric and colleagues found that only 10 to 30 percent of individuals carrying these variants actually develop disease—far lower than previously believed. The findings suggest that additional genetic or environmental factors influence disease expression and could reshape clinical genetic testing. The research may also have implications for other monogenic disorders, including Huntington’s disease and muscular dystrophy. Read the full story