Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation, a private company based in Alachua, Florida, has announced the receipt of $1M in funding for phase II human trials in patients with leber’s congenital amaurosis using proprietary AAV vectors. The company aims to use the funding from the FDA Orphan Drugs Program to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an AAV delivered treatment for leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA). The phase II trial is to be conducted at the University of Massachusetts Medical School under the guidance of Dr. Shalesh Kaushal and Dr. Tim Stout (based at the Oregon Health and Science University).