Treatment with EPO or EPO-R76E, a form of EPO that has attenuated erythropoietic activity, protect the retinal ganglion cells in models of glaucoma and protects the photoreceptors in the light-induced and retinal degeneration slow (Rds) models of retinal degeneration and in trauma.[17–27] The goal of this study was to determine if recombinant adeno-associated (rAAV) mediated delivery of EPO-R76E is effective in slowing the rate of photoreceptor degeneration in the hP23H RHO+/-,mRHO+/+ mouse model of ADRP. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is retinal degeneration.