Distinguished Speaker Series | William Spencer, PhD

Dr. William J. Spencer, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Cell & Developmental Biology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he leads a research program focused on the cellular mechanisms that govern photoreceptor health and retinal survival. His work centers on how defects in photoreceptor outer-segment disc renewal—a highly specialized, cilia-based process essential for vision—trigger extracellular vesicle release, microglial activation, and progressive retinal degeneration. By integrating molecular biology, biochemistry, electron microscopy, and in vivo retinal disease models, the Spencer Lab investigates how oxidative stress, impaired disc morphogenesis, and dysfunctional debris clearance pathways contribute to blinding disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa. A major thrust of his research examines the role of ectosome production and immune-mediated clearance in photoreceptor maintenance, aiming to identify therapeutic targets that can slow or prevent neurodegeneration. Dr. Spencer earned his PhD from Duke University, completed postdoctoral training in retinal cell biology, and has been supported by NIH and Knights Templar Eye Foundation awards. His publications advance the understanding of how photoreceptors maintain structural integrity under metabolic and environmental stress, bridging fundamental cell biology with translational approaches to preserve vision.