October 2025
Honored to announce that the latest issue of IOVS features an image from our collaborative paper on the cover
We are pleased to present our collaborative study with Dr. Cintia S. de Paiva, entitled "Aging affects lipid homeostasis in lacrimal glands by upregulating lipogenesis and changing its specificity". The study was published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), and is available now for downloading. Congratulations to the co-first co-authors Dr. Yuksel and Dr. Kumar!
September 2025
Special Issue "Metabolomics of the Eye and Adnexa-2nd Edition" is now open for submission
Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to announce an upcoming Special Issue of Metabolites titled “Metabolomics of the Eye and Adnexa—2nd Edition”. Metabolomics is a field of science that uses numerous approaches to identify changes in metabolite profiles and levels in order to establish and explore associations between them and various ocular pathologies, such as dry eye, glaucoma, keratoconus, and age-related macular degeneration. Using metabolomic approaches to identify biomarkers that indicate the early stages of ocular diseases will result in earlier diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the complex relationship between metabolism and ocular diseases is critical in developing novel therapeutic remedies to slow down or reverse the course of these devastating and often blinding disorders. This Special Issue will delve into the intricate metabolic changes in ocular diseases. We warmly welcome the submission of both basic science and clinical reports promoting a comprehensive exploration of this critical subject. Moreover, we will present cutting-edge reviews and original articles exploring the onset and progression of metabolic disorders that potentially affect the eye and adnexa.
Dr. Seher Yuksel
Dr. Igor Butovich
Guest Editors
Deadline for manuscript submissions
30 April 2026
July 2025
Butovich Lab published in IOVS!
We are pleased to see our collaborative study led by Dr. Vivien Coulson-Thomas, entitled "Comparative Analysis of Age-Associated Changes in Meibum Composition, Distribution, and Function in Mice With Altered Hyaluronan Expression", which was published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), is available now.
(Link to the paper)
July 2025
Butovich Lab published in JBC!
We are pleased to see our manuscript, entitled "Biosynthesis of fatty aldehydes and alcohols in the eye and their role in meibogenesis", which was published in Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC). Congratulations to the first author Seher!
(Link to the paper)
June 2025
Welcome baby Hazel!
Many congrats to Amber! So happy for her growing family! Wishing her all the best.
May 2025
Butovich Lab presented at the ARVO 2025 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah!
April 2025
Butovich Lab presented at the 2025 ASBMB Annual Meeting in Chicago!
April 2025
Butovich Lab presented at the WISMAC Celebration of Women in Science and Medicine Symposium at the UTSW Medical Center!
October 2024
Butovich Lab published in the Ocular Surface!
We are pleased to see our collaborative study led by Dr. Brian Leonard, entitled "Meibomian gland lipid alterations and ocular surface sequela in Awat2 knockout murine model of meibomian gland dysfunction and evaporative dry eye disease" which was published in the Ocular Surface.
(Link to the paper)
July 2024
Special Issue "Metabolomics of the Eye and Adnexa" is now open for submission
Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to announce this upcoming Special Issue of Metabolites, titled “Metabolomics of the Eye and Adnexa”. Metabolomics is a field of science that uses numerous approaches to identify changes in metabolite profiles and levels to establish and explore associations between them and various ocular pathologies, such as dry eye, glaucoma, keratoconus, or age-related macular degeneration. Identifying biomarkers using metabolomic approaches that indicate the early stages of ocular diseases will result in the earlier diagnosis and treatment of these ocular diseases. Understanding the complex relationship between metabolism and ocular diseases is critical in developing novel therapeutic remedies to slow down or reverse the course of these life-altering disorders, which can lead to blindness. This Special Issue will delve into the intricate metabolic changes in ocular diseases. We warmly welcome submissions of both basic science and clinical reports, promoting a comprehensive exploration of this critical subject. Moreover, we aim to present cutting-edge reviews and original articles exploring the onset and progression of metabolic disorders potentially involving the eye and adnexa.
Dr. Seher Yuksel
Dr. Igor Butovich
Guest Editors
July 2024
Butovich Lab published in IOVS!
We are pleased to see our manuscript, entitled "Physiological Effects of Soat1 Inactivation on Homeostasis of the Mouse Ocular Surface", which was published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS). Congratulations to the first author Amber Wilkerson, and co-authors Seher Yuksel and Riya Acharya (2023 STARS Alumna)!
(Link to the paper)
June 2024
Congratulations Riya!
2023 STARS Alumna Riya Acharya has been accepted to UT Dallas and plans to pursue Biochemistry. Riya is a part of the Eugene McDermott Scholars Program. Congratulations Riya!
June 2024
Congratulations Dr. Yuksel!
Seher has been promoted to Assistant Instructor!
June 2024
Welcome to our new lab member!
Rohma Zaidi has joined the Butovich Lab as a medical intern! Welcome, Rohma!
March 2024
Butovich Lab published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences!
We are pleased to see our collaborative study led by Prof. Dr. Friedrich Paulsen, entitled "Comparative Characterization of Human Meibomian Glands, Free Sebaceous Glands, and Hair-Associated Sebaceous Glands Based on Biomarkers, Analysis of Secretion Composition, and Gland Morphology" which was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
(Link to the paper)
January 2024
Welcome to our new lab member!
Benjamin Ash has joined the Butovich Lab as a medical student! Welcome, Benjamin!
September 2023
Congratulations Amber!
Amber Wilkerson has been promoted to Research Associate!
August 2023
Butovich Lab published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences!
We are pleased to see our study, entitled "Dysregulation of Lipid Metabolism in Aging Meibomian Glands and Its Molecular Markers" which was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
(Link to the paper)
August 2023
Butovich Lab published in IOVS!
We are pleased to see our study led by Dr. Yi Zuo, entitled "Comparative Biophysical Study of Meibomian Lipids of Wild Type and Soat1-Null Mice: Implications to Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye Disease", which was published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS).
(Link to the paper)
June 2023
Butovich Lab published in JBC!
We are pleased to see our manuscript, entitled "Sdr16c5 and Sdr16c6 control a dormant pathway at a bifurcation point between meibogenesis and sebogenesis", which was published in Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC).
(Link to the paper)
May 2023
Butovich Lab presented at the ARVO 2023 Annual Meeting in New Orleans!
May 2023
Butovich Lab published in Communications Biology!
We are pleased to see our collaborative work led by Drs. Rafael Ufret-Vincenty and Bruce A. Beutler, entitled "Forward genetic screening using fundus spot scale identifies an essential role for Lipe in murine retinal homeostasis", which was published in Communications Biology. Congratulations to the co-first co-authors Dr. Yuksel and Dr. Aredo!
(Link to the paper)
April 2023
Butovich Lab published in JBC!
We are pleased to see our manuscript, entitled "Probing dietary triacylglycerol metabolism and meibogenesis in mice: A stable isotope-labeled tracer liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry study", which was published in Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC). Congratulations to the co-authors Seher and Amber!
(Link to the paper)
March 2023
Butovich Lab published in Communications Biology!
We are pleased to see our collaborative work led by Dr. Carlo Iomini, entitled "Primary cilia control cellular patterning of Meibomian glands during morphogenesis but not lipid composition", which was published in Communications Biology.
(Link to the paper)
July 2022
Butovich Lab published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences!
We are pleased to see our study, entitled "Dynamic Changes in the Gene Expression Patterns and Lipid Profiles in the Developing and Maturing Meibomian Glands" which was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Congratulations to co-author Amber!
(Link to the paper)
July 2021
Butovich Lab published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology!
We are pleased to see our study, entitled "Differential effects of dietary cholesterol and triglycerides on the lipid homeostasis in Meibomian glands" which was published in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Congratulations to co-authors Amber and Seher!
(Link to the paper)
February 2021
Butovich Lab published in the FASEB Journal!
We are pleased to see our study, entitled "Physiological effects of inactivation and the roles of Elovl3/ELOVL3 in maintaining ocular homeostasis", which was published in the FASEB Journal. Congratulations to the first author Amber, and co-authors Nita, Hai, and Seher!
(Link to the paper)
September 2020
Butovich Lab published in Scientific Reports!
We are pleased to see our study, entitled "Comprehensive profiling of Asian and Caucasian meibomian gland secretions reveals similar lipidomic signatures regardless of ethnicity", which was published in Scientific Reports.
(Link to the paper)
March 2020
Congratulations Seher!
On receiving the Spring 2020 Travel Award from the UT Southwestern Postdoctoral Association
September 2019
Butovich Lab published in the FASEB Journal!
We are pleased to see our study, entitled "On the pivotal role of Elovl3/ELOVL3 in meibogenesis and ocular physiology of mice", which was published in the FASEB Journal.
(Link to the paper)
May 2019
Butovich Lab presented at the ARVO 2019 Annual Meeting in Vancouver!
May 2019