1000 Wall Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Available to mentor
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Postgraduate FellowshipMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Chemistry, 1989
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Teaching CertificateWestern Michigan University, Education, 1976
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PhDMichigan State University, East Lansing, 1984
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BSWestern Michigan University, Kalamazoo, 1974
Our research focuses on studies of the molecular mechanisms responsible for inherited forms of retinal degeneration causing devastating loss of vision in affected individuals. Our efforts have contributed to the identification of disease genes whose mutations result in early and severe forms of retinal degeneration. Normally these genes are expressed in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium, and encode proteins necessary for the function and survival of the light absorbing rod and cone photoreceptor cells. Disease-associated mutations disrupt cellular processes including the metabolism of vitamin A needed to produce the light-absorbing chromophore 11-cis retinal, the phagocytic uptake of membrane debris from the subretinal space, and the structure and lipid composition of the photoreceptor cells. Our ongoing research focuses on analysis of the normal function and pathogenic mechanisms associated with these genetic defects, in studies involving biochemical assays of protein function and enzyme activity in vitro, and phenotypic characterization of mouse and rat models corresponding to human forms of disease. We are also involved in studies of the function of the retinal pigment epithelium as it relates to the etiology of AMD. We are using this information to develop novel strategies for therapeutic intervention, including gene-replacement therapy, that we are testing in preclinical trials.
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Liton PB, Boesze-Battaglia K, Boulton ME, Boya P, Ferguson TA, Ganley IG, Kauppinnen A, Laurie GW, Mizushima N, Morishita H, Russo R, Sadda J, Shyam R, Sinha D, Thompson DA, Zacks DN. Autophagy Rep, 2023 2 (1):Journal ArticleAUTOPHAGY IN THE EYE: FROM PHYSIOLOGY TO PATHOPHYSOLOGY.
DOI:10.1080/27694127.2023.2178996 PMID: 37034386 -
Feathers KL, Jia L, Khan NW, Smith AJ, Ma J-X, Ali RR, Thompson DA. Hum Gene Ther, 2023 Jul; 34 (13-14): 639 - 648.Journal ArticleGene Supplementation in Mice Heterozygous for the D477G RPE65 Variant Implicated in Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa.
DOI:10.1089/hum.2022.240 PMID: 37014074 -
Chen L, Perera ND, Karoukis AJ, Feathers KL, Ali RR, Thompson DA, Fahim AT. Sci Rep, 2022 Jul 26; 12 (1): 12694Journal ArticleOxidative stress differentially impacts apical and basolateral secretion of angiogenic factors from human iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells.
DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-16701-6 PMID: 35882889 -
Chen L, Perera ND, Karoukis AJ, Feathers KL, Ali RR, Thompson DA, Fahim AT. Scientific reports, 2022 Jan 26; 12 (1):Journal ArticleOxidative stress differentially impacts apical and basolateral secretion of angiogenic factors from human iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells.
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Zhang Q, Presswalla F, Ali RR, Zacks DN, Thompson DA, Miller JML. Aging (Albany NY), 2021 Apr 19; 13 (8): 10866 - 10890.Journal ArticlePharmacologic activation of autophagy without direct mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for treating dry macular degeneration.
DOI:10.18632/aging.202974 PMID: 33872219 -
Boyer NP, Thompson DA, Koutalos Y. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2021 Feb 1; 62 (2): 1Journal ArticleRelative Contributions of All-Trans and 11-Cis Retinal to Formation of Lipofuscin and A2E Accumulating in Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelium.
DOI:10.1167/iovs.62.2.1 PMID: 33523199 -
Thompson DA, Iannaccone A, Ali RR, Arshavsky VY, Audo I, Bainbridge JWB, Besirli CG, Birch DG, Branham KE, Cideciyan AV, Daiger SP, Dalkara D, Duncan JL, Fahim AT, Flannery JG, Gattegna R, Heckenlively JR, Heon E, Jayasundera KT, Khan NW, Klassen H, Leroy BP, Molday RS, Musch DC, Pennesi ME, Petersen-Jones SM, Pierce EA, Rao RC, Reh TA, Sahel JA, Sharon D, Sieving PA, Strettoi E, Yang P, Zacks DN, Monaciano Consortium . Transl Vis Sci Technol, 2020 Jun; 9 (7): 2Journal ArticleAdvancing Clinical Trials for Inherited Retinal Diseases: Recommendations from the Second Monaciano Symposium.
DOI:10.1167/tvst.9.7.2 PMID: 32832209 -
Fahim AT, Bouzia Z, Branham KH, Kumaran N, Vargas ME, Feathers KL, Perera ND, Young K, Khan NW, Heckenlively JR, Webster AR, Pennesi ME, Ali RR, Thompson DA, Michaelides M. Br J Ophthalmol, 2019 Dec; 103 (12): 1789 - 1796.Journal ArticleDetailed clinical characterisation, unique features and natural history of autosomal recessive RDH12-associated retinal degeneration.
DOI:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313580 PMID: 30979730
