Our laboratory’s primary focus is on the following areas of vision research:
- Development of novel regenerative cell-based therapies for ophthalmic neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma and optic nerve hypoplasia.
- Molecular and functional analysis of photoreceptors (rod and cone) and retinal ganglion cells for their therapeutic application to cure retinal degeneration-associated blindness.
- In vivo retinal regeneration from retinal glial cells.
- Translation of clinically observed correlations into a mechanistic understanding of the physical and biological underpinnings of neurological disorders that affect both the retina and optic nerves.
Funding
- The Glaucoma Research Foundation
- Chemically reprogrammed retinal ganglion cell therapy to treat glaucomatous neuropathy. Supported by Glaucoma Research Foundation.
- Chemically reprogrammed Muller cell derived retinal ganglion cells to study and treat optic nerve hypoplasia. Supported by Knights Templar Eye Foundation grant.