Molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling vertebrate organ-genesis and disease; Eye development and diseases; Lens biology
The goal of our research is to investigate the mechanism of eye development and diseases by using genetic mutant animals. Currently, we are focusing on the studies of how different gene mutations lead to cataract or retinal degeneration in two principal areas: (1) Mechanisms of the elongation and maturation of lens fiber cells during development by using mice with connexin (protein subunits form intercellular gap junction channels) and crystallin gene mutations that selectively inhibit the elongation and/or maturation processes of lens fiber cells; and (2) Mechanism of retinal degeneration caused by the functional disruption of photoreceptor cells or retinal pigment epithelial cells due to the presence of gene mutations such as novel point mutations of rhodopsin, chloride channel2, beta subunit of cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE6B), or others that we have characterized from a genome-wide mutagenesis study of mouse eye mutations. BCSDP trainees would have the opportunity to conduct research in these areas.
