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The Center for Translational Vision Research Distinguished Speaker Series, also known as "Friday Seminars" showcases innovative research across the world. The seminar series has now been expanded to include lectures by experts on topics ranging from Ophthalmology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Neurobiology, Imaging, Computational Sciences to Novel Ophthalmic Treatments.
All talks are hybrid. You can join us in person at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute Building, 3d floor Conference Room.
You can also join us by zoom. Zoom link and information are on your right and in the calendar links above.
Learn More About the Distinguished Speaker Series
Agenda for the morning:
Retina has extremely active energy metabolism to support its function in processing light signals into electrical signals. Differs from the brain, retina has unique laminated structure (Left panel below) and relies much more on aerobic glycolysis (Right panel below). Mutations in the metabolism genes such as PDE6, IDH3, HK, IMPDH, and NMNAT1 exclusively affect retina to cause vision loss in inherited retinal degeneration in humans. Retina has at least six different cell types and they are highly interactive and inter-dependent in nutrient utilization (Right panel below). The malfunction of metabolism in RPE cells and MÜller glial cells could lead to photoreceptor degeneration in age-related macular degeneration and Macular telangiectasia type 2. Targeting metabolism might be a promising approach to treat retinal degenerative diseases.
Our lab integrates multidisciplinary approaches including mass spectrometry, stable isotope tracers, gene editing, animal models and stem cell technology to study the roles of metabolic regulation and dys-regulation in the heathy and diseased retinas.