2009 Faculty Researchers

Rajiv R. Mohan, Ph.D.

Corneal gene therapy and wound healing

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Department

Ophthalmology

Office Location

EC210 (Mason Eye Institute) and B031 (VA Hospital)

Phone #:

Office: (573) 884-1449
Fax: (573) 814-6551

Summary

Gene therapy and nanomedicine have potential to offer novel therapeutic modalities to cure eye diseases and prevent blindness. Our laboratory is engaged in defining virus- and nanotechnology-based gene therapy approaches to treat corneal diseases and dystrophies. Another focus of our laboratory is to understand corneal wound healing response and biological mechanisms involved in refractive surgeries such as photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The summer student will work on the research projects aimed to test our central hypothesis that selective delivery of therapeutic genes into keratocytes or stroma can cure corneal disorders without causing significant side effects. Using variety of cellular, molecular and immunohistochemical assays, he/she will evaluate toxicity of various drugs, gold or polymeric nanoparticles, determine cellular uptake of test materials and study their effects on corneal function. Additionally, he/she will have opportunity to learn how to prepare transfection formulations and determine efficacy of new formulations for delivering genes in the cornea. Our research program provides a unique opportunity to acquire hands-on experience in cell culture, animal work, molecular biology, microscopic and immunocytochemical techniques.