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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
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
Dr. Michael D. Dennis, PhD is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, where he leads the Dennis Lab focused on understanding how nutrient- and stress-regulated translational control mechanisms contribute to retinal disease. His research investigates how dysregulation of the mTOR–4E-BP1/REDD1 signaling axis and O-GlcNAc modification of translational machinery drive pathological protein synthesis in diabetic retinopathy and related disorders. By combining molecular biology, biochemistry, and in vivo models of diabetes, the Dennis Lab uncovers how shifts in mRNA translation under oxidative and metabolic stress lead to retinal neurovascular dysfunction. A major focus of his work explores how loss or inhibition of translational repressors like 4E-BP1 or stress-response proteins like REDD1 can protect retinal function, offering new therapeutic strategies for diabetic eye disease. Dr. Dennis earned his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology and has been supported by NIH and American Diabetes Association grants. His publications have advanced understanding of how stress-induced translational reprogramming contributes to retinal degeneration, bridging fundamental molecular mechanisms with translational insights for preventing vision loss in metabolic disease.