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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
Rod and cone photoreceptors are light-sensing neurons essential for our vision. Their development and maintenance require appropriate expression of a set of specific genes while silencing others. Over-expression and under-expression of certain genes, such as the visual pigment Rhodopsin, can lead to photoreceptor developmental defects or degeneration.
The major goal of our research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the expression of photoreceptor genes and how genetic mutations cause gene mis-regulation and defects impacting photoreceptor cell biology and survival. We and others have identified a network of photoreceptor-specific transcription factors (TF) acting along with CRX and chromatin modulators that are essential for regulating target gene expression by binding to specific genomic sites called cis–regulatory elements (CREs), found in gene promoters, enhancers and other sites.