Given the ‘orphan’ status of IRDs, extensive genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, and predominantly early dysfunction/death of rods, we designed a simple assay using GFP-tagged rods from iPSCs of a mouse mutant that phenocopies LCA10 and established an HTS platform to identify small-molecule drugs to maintain photoreceptor survival. The gene discussed is CEP290; the disease is respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants.