Researchers and physicians at Wayne State University's Kresge Eye Institute and The Detroit Medical Center have teamed up to establish the Ligon Research Center of Vision.

Funded by a $5 million gift from Michigan entrepreneur-business owner Robert M. Ligon, the new center will focus on the advancement of artificial vision. With many causes of blindness, some parts of a person's visual system remain intact.

The Ligon Center is developing tiny devices - retinal (eye) and cortical (brain) implants - using the latest technology. The devices will work with the remaining healthy eye parts to at least partially restore a patient's sight. Although other leading research institutions are studying similar implants, the Ligon Center is the only site in the world where research is being conducted on both retinal and cortical mechanisms.

Technology to build the devices is based on work done by Greg Auner, director of the Center for Smart Sensors and Integrated Devices (CSSID) in the WSU College of Engineering. Auner's center has core research programs using wide bandgap semiconductor materials; graded pyroelectrics; thin-film magnetic devices; organic thin film devices; and integrated (intelligent) technology.

CSSID is developing a wide array of biomedical devices, including intercranial pressure measurement sensors, heart transplant viability sensors; and acoustic wave biosensors and arrays.

"Our intent is for the center to become a leader in the field of artificial vision," said Dr. Gary Abrams, professor and chairman of ophthalmology in the WSU School of Medicine and vice president of Kresge Eye Institute.

"Beyond our own work we will be hosting periodic conferences bringing together top scientists from around the world to share ideas and stimulate innovation in this very promising and dynamic field of science and medicine "

Ligon expressed interest to Abrams in 1997 about the possibility of developing an artificial eye.
Abrams, with his knowledge about artificial retinal implants, approached Auner in 1998 with the idea of collaborating on the development of special tiny integrated devices that could produce vision. Technology already developed by Auner demonstrated that such implants were indeed possible.

The Ligon Center's vision restoration research is a joint effort of the Kresge Eye Institute, the WSU/DMC department of neurosurgery and the College of Engineering.

"Our research team brings together the unique skills and experience necessary for an initiative of this scope and sophistication," Abrams said.

"Mr. and Mrs. Ligon's generosity makes it possible for us to ideally align these resources, and we share their goal of realizing the benefits of this research in their lifetime."

"(The Ligons) have matched the largest gift by an individual in the history of this institution," said WSU President Irvin D. Reid. "Clearly the research dollars that will flow to this university because of their contribution will be extraordinary.

"This is a wonderful day for the university, the medical school, the DMC and all the professionals who have worked so hard to make this happen."

Ligon co-founded the Romeo, Mich.-based L & L Products Inc. in 1958. The company manufactures elastomer gasket and sealing products for the automotive industry.

An inventor and engineer, Ligon holds several patents. He and his wife, Gerry, maintain residences in East China Township, Mich., and Phoenix, Ariz.