Park (Kevin) Lab | UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas

The Park Lab investigates the mechanisms by which neuronal circuits in the visual system are generated and established during development and after injury.

Our research explores two key areas: 1) Mechanisms by which neurons form proper connections with each other and 2) Cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the death of neurons and lack of regeneration in the central nervous system after injury and in degenerative diseases like glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa.

Meet the PI

Kevin (Kyung) Park, Ph.D.

Dr. Park is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Park graduated from the University of Western Australia where he received a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Human Biology and a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Microbiology. From 2007 to 2010, he was a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Neurology at Harvard University/Children’s Hospital Boston. Before joining UT Southwestern, Dr. Park was a faculty member in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Since 2008, Dr. Park’s research has been supported by federal and foundation grants, including his current R01 on 3D Visualization and Investigation of Retinal Axon Regeneration. His past research awards include three R01 and three R21 grants, as well as awards from the Department of Defense, the Pew Biomedical Trust (Pew Scholar Award), and the Karl Kirchgessner Foundation, among others. Dr. Park has authored or co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and a book chapter “Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cell Axons” in The Senses: A Comprehensive Reference (2020). He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics and ARVO.

Lab members

(L to r.) Rajeshwari Koilkonda, Ph.D. (Sr. Research Scientist); Venu Talla, Ph.D. (Instructor); Tamdan Khuu (Research Technician II); Kevin K. Park, Ph.D. (PI); Noah Mathew (Graduate Student); Chaimaa Kinane, Ph.D. (Postdoc); and Moxa Panchal, M.D. (Research Assistant II). Not pictured: Javier Gomez (Research Assistant II)