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Retina Research Foundation
7200 B Cambridge
Houston, Texas 77030-2715
713-797-1925

email us
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Retina Research Foundation
Renewal Research Grants
2010 |
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Baylor College of Medicine – Cullen Eye Center |
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Ramon L. Font, M.D.
Cullen
Eye Institute
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Immunohistochemistry and Molecular Biology in Ophthalmic
Pathology
Our research interest is to study the pathogenesis and molecular
diagnosis of the common fungi as well as the rare fungi.
We studies mycotic infections of the eye by molecular biology
techniques in an effort to determine the accurate and prompt
identification of the different fungal organisms. The
basic and clinical research studies will provide valuable
insights in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of neoplastic lesions
of the eye and ocular adnexa. |
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Samuel Miao-Sin Wu, Ph.D.
Cullen Eye Center
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Pharmacological and Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Retinal Cell
Death in Glaucoma and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
His lab developed one animal model for glaucoma and four
mouse models for ARMD. By using these models, this research
Team identified 6 pharmacological agents that are protective
against retinal cell damage in glaucoma and ARMD, including
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). |
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Baylor College of Medicine - Other |
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Rui Chen, Ph
Dept. of Mocular and Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Functional Analysis of Pour6 Genes in
the Retina
We plan to determine the LCA3 disease gene. In
addition, we will conduct mapping of additional novel LCA loci
(aim 2). Finally, we plan to generate conditional and nuli
alleles of the mouse POU6f1 (aim3). Specifically, we will
generate targeting constructs, electroporate ES cells and
identified targeted alleles, generate climatic mice carrying
these alleles by blastocyst injection, and obtain germline
transmission of these alleles. We expect to be able to
observe loss of function phenotypes near the end of the period. |
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Richard Hurwitz, M.D.
Director, Texas Children's Hospital Retinoblastoma Center -
Pediatrics, Ophatalmology and Molecular and Cellular Biology -
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Immune Consequences of Gene Therapy for Ocular Disorders
The laboratory studies the use of gene therapy approaches to
treat ocular disease. Retinoblastoma, the most common form
of cancer of the eye in children is sometimes complicated by
small pieces of cancer cells that break away from the main tumor
and grow in the vitreous. These vitreous seeds are very
difficult to treat. The preliminary data has shown that
gene therapy adenoviral vectors can be safely delivered to the
eyes of children with retinoblastoma complicated by vitreous
seeds. In addition, the vitreous tumor seeds were eradicated in
these children. |
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Milan Jamrich, PhD
Dept of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Baylor College Of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Function of TX in the
Specification, Differentiation and Survival of
Vertebrate Retinal Cells
Our research is focusing on the
role of the homeobox-containing gene
Rx in the
development, differentiation and survival of vertebrate retinal
cells. We have shown previously that
Rx has a critical
role in the vertebrate eye formation. Overexpression
of
Rx in frog
embryos results in the development of giant eyes and the
targeted elimination of Rx
in mice results in a lack of eye formation. It was found by
others that mutations in Rx genes cause lack of eye development
in the zebrafish and medaka fish. Finally, mutations in human RX
result in anophthalmia.
Because it was shown that
mutations in the human QRX,
a gene very similar to Rx,
are involved in retinal degeneration, we are currently
investigating the role of Rx
in the survival of retinal cells. Our preliminary data suggests
that Rx has a
critical role in the survival of retinal cells and the absence
of its function causes retinal degeneration and detachment. |
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Graeme Mardon, Ph.D.
Department of
Pathology
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Retinal Development
This work focuses on two conserved genes (named Dach
and senseless) that specify retinal cell fates during
development. Both genes are necessary for normal retinal
development in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and
are highly conserved in mammals, including humans. One goal of
our work has been to determine whether the mammalian Dach
genes also play an essential role in eye development and the
team is using gene targeting to this end. A second goal of the
project is to identify new, conserved genes that are also
required for proper eye formation and we are using the power of
Drosophila genetics to find genes that interact with
senseless during retinal development. |
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University of Wisconsin-Madison |
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Curtis R. Brandt, Ph.D.
Ophthalmology and Visual Science
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI
Gene Therapy for Retinal Degenerative Diseases
This laboratory is focusing on using Herpes simplex virus based
vectors for ocular gene delivery. Previously, we have
shown that a therapeutic gene can be delivered to the retina
with a positive effect in rodents. We have also shown that
genes can be delivered to the retina in primates but a transient
inflammatory response is induced. We are currently
focusing our efforts on understanding why the vector induces
inflammation in primates but not in rodents. Understanding
the mechanisms involved will allow us to develop strategies to
block the effect. |
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Barbara E. Klein, MD, MPH
Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual
University of Wisconsin Medical School,
Madison, WI
Associations of Retinal Microvascular Caliber in Pregnant Diabetic Women
Retinal blood vessel
diameters have been found to be associated with micro and
macrovascular diseases and risk factors for them in persons with
and without diabetes. Retinal blood flow is increased in
pregnant women perhaps as much as three times than in women who
are not pregnant. Whether this is accomplished by widened
retinal blood vessels during pregnancy has not been assessed.
Pregnancy in diabetic women increases risk of proteinuria and
high blood pressure above that already heightened risk of these
problems in those with diabetes. We hypothesize those
changes in retinal blood vessel diameters during pregnancy are
makers of heightened risk of development of these conditions. |
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Leonard A. Levin, MD, PhD
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
University of Wisconsin Medical School,
Madison, WI
Pharmacological Protection of Endothelial Cells for Retinal
Vascular Disease
Many blinding retinal diseases result
from abnormalities of blood vessels. In some diseases, such as
diabetic retinopathy or as the results of radiation, the
initial event is damage to endothelial cells, the cells that
line the inside of the blood vessels. We have previously
demonstrated, in collaboration with ?Dr. Timothy Kern of Case
Western Reserve University, that this endothelial cell death
can be ameliorated in a transgenic mouse, and that diabetic
retinopathy progresses less rapidly.
However, it is impractical to use gene regulation of this type
in patients. Instead, we have worked on developing novel drugs
that block cell death. Recently, we discovered that some of
these drugs, named borane-protected phosphines, block
endothelial cell death in tissue cultures. We now propose to
study their feasibility as treatments for retinal vascular
disease.
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| University Of Texas |
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Louise C. Strong, M.D.
Molecular Genetics
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Genetic Etiology of Retinoblastoma
The goals of our research include understanding the roles of
the tumor suppressor genes retinoblastoma gene (Rb1) and p53 in
the development of the ocular and non-ocular tumors that occur
in hereditary retinoblastoma patients. We have focused
specifically on characterizing unusual retinoblastoma patients.
We have focused specifically on characterizing unusual
retinoblastoma gene mutations that have low penetrance (fewer
tumors, older onset) on one hand, and on characterizing the Rb1
inherited mutations and p53 non-hereditary somatic mutations in
non-ocular tumors (primarily sarcomas)arising in hereditary
retinoblastoma patients. |
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Texas A & M University System
Health Science Center/Scott & White Mem. Hospital |
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Lih Kuo, PhD
Department of Systems Biology and Translational Medicine.
Temple, Texas
Effect for C-Reactive Protein and
Statins on Retinal Arteriolar Function
Recent studies have implicated that elevation of inflammatory
marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is a major independent risk
factor for vascular disorder during the development of
cardiovascular disease including diabetes. In
the present application, we will test the hypothesis that
elevation of intravascular level of CRP can lead to endothelial
dysfunction and impair vasodilation by reducing NO
bioavailability through enhanced oxidative stress. We also
hypothesize that administration of statins can improve
CRP-impaired retinal endothelial function and vasodilation by
enhancing endothelial NO production and reducing oxidative
stress. |
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