Research Interests:
We are a translational cell biology lab focused on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the developed world. Our experimental platform involves human primary and induced-pluripotent stem cell cultures of the cell layer that degenerates in AMD, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Using advanced microscopy, cell biology methods, and -omics, we study the lipid handling, endolysosomal, metabolic, and extracellular matrix remodeling pathways in the RPE critical for AMD pathogenesis.
Additional Pages:
DEI Statement:
A core part of my mentoring philosophy is to seek to understand those with opinions and backgrounds different than my own. It is incumbant on me, as leader of a lab, to question whether a strongly formed opinion of mine would hold true through the lens of someone with alternative life experiences. With this attitude, we seek out persons with diverse backgrounds and perspectives for the lab, and we hope to respectfully share how those differences affect each individual's career development.