Engineered hydrogel biomaterials to improve tissue regeneration and disease modelling

The Varadarajan Lab is interested in rebuilding neural circuits and restoring sensory function impaired by injury or disease.

Dr. Park’s research focuses on the visual system and how the projection neurons in the retina, the retinal ganglion cell axons, find their targets and form synapses in the brain. He is investigating two key areas: 1) 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 2) mechanisms by which neurons form proper connections with each other.

The Robertson Lab studies mitochondrial and metabolic homeostasis in the corneal epithelium and the role of homeostatic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of corneal disease.

The goal of the Ufret-Vincenty Lab is to develop therapeutic strategies for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Mootha Lab uses human genetics and genomics to understand the molecular basis of Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy and develop novel therapeutic strategies.

My research interests include lipidomics, enzymology, drug discovery, and bioanalytical chemistry in the relation to ocular biochemistry, biophysics, and physiology. 

Petroll Lab applies engineering approaches and design principles to the investigation of fundamental clinical and biological problems in ophthalmology, while providing training to graduate students, medical students, and post-docs. 

The Harbour Lab uses genomic technologies and genetically engineered human cells and mouse models to develop biomarkers and elucidate mechanisms of tumor evolution and metastasis in uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma.

The goal of our research lab is to identify the early steps in the pathogenesis of AMD, and to investigate the novel methods to treat and even to prevent its development.