Current Research Interests - 2007
Click on the image for a detailed description
Phenotypic and clinical manifestations of a disease result from perturbations in normal cellular behavior and adaptive response to genetic changes or environmental abuse. Our studies focus on the development, function and diseases of the retina, which supplies over 30% of the sensory input to the brain. Any damage to the neural retina because of hereditary or environmental factors can lead to devastating consequences including the loss of vision.
Broad goals of the specific projects are as follows (click on the project or one of the images above for a detailed description):
- Photoreceptor cell fate determination, regulation of gene expression, and early-onset retinal diseases
- Ciliary Transport, Microtubule Organization, and Retinal Dystrophies
- Mouse models of retinal disease and pathways of photoreceptor cell death
- Genomic-based association studies to identify genetic susceptibility loci and variants for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)