The aim of this major study is to develop the next stage in our understanding of Usher syndrome by linking information about the type and severity of hearing balance and vision loss in people with Usher syndrome with the gene that causes their disorder. The National Collaborative Usher Study (NCUS) is in its final year (2007). Clinical and genetic information has been collected from 185 families and on over 220 individuals. Molecular diagnosis has been made on the majority of study participants. Further genetic analysis on certain families has yet to be completed.
