Research
Research is a major component of the Department of Ophthalmology and it encompasses
both the basic and clinical sciences. The second floor of the Mason Eye Institute
is totally devoted to research laboratories and support facilities. Additionally,
there is research space at the Missouri Lions Eye Research Foundation at 404 Portland
Street, Columbia, Missouri. Five full-time PhD researchers hold faculty appointments
in the Department of Ophthalmology and are responsible for research efforts in the
basic sciences. Research interests within the department are diverse and cover a
wide range of ophthalmologic problems.
Research is being conducted by
Martin Katz, PhD,
to determine the mechanisms underlying age-related retinal degeneration, a leading
cause of blindness in the United States.
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The cornea is an ideal candidate for gene therapy due to its immune-privilege status,
accessibility and easy visual monitoring. Corneal haze, scarring and neovascularization
are among the leading causes of vision impairment in the world and affect approximately
1.5 million Americans every year. Abnormal wound healing due to corneal injury or
infection has been shown to play a critical role in causing these and other corneal
disorders and diseases. The research in the laboratory of
Rajiv Mohan, PhD, is primarily focused in developing tissue-targeted selective
gene therapy approaches for preventing/treating corneal disorders, diseases and
dystrophies, and studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in corneal
wound healing.
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The research performed in the laboratory of
Kristina
Narfström, PhD, concerns mainly the characterization of hereditary retinal
blinding diseases in animals that have their counterparts in humans. Clinical and
laboratory studies in affected dogs and cats form the basis of her research. Ophthalmological,
genetical, electrophysiological, and morphological descriptions of the disease processes
are performed. Disease mechanisms are elucidated and, finally, treatment strategies
are evaluated. The main goal of her studies is to find effective cures for hereditary
retinal blinding disease for the affected animals and, ultimately, also for humans
with comparable diseases. Further, safety issues are studied in the large animal
models in order to prepare for human clinical studies.
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It has been hypothesized that chaperone-like activity of -crystallin is responsible
for maintaining lens clarity and transparency in vivo. The truncation of the alpha
crystallin decreases its chaperone-like activity.
Krishna
Sharma, PhD, is investigating the role of site specific lens proteases and
peptide hydrolases in truncation and alteration of alpha crystallin chaperone activity.
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Lixing Reneker, PhD, is currently studying
molecular mechanisms of eye development, specifically signal transduction pathways
in lens development and anterior segment development.
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Dean Hainsworth, MD is involved in several research projects. The AREDS 2 trial is
an NIH sponsored clinical trial to determine whether Lutein/Zeaxanthin or Fish Oil
would further decreased the risk of choroidal neovascularization in patients with
AMD. The DCCT/EDIC is a long term NIH sponsored trial following patients with type
1 diabetes to further determine benefits of careful glucose control including examining
the development of retinopathy. The DEGAS is a Pfizer sponsored trial to determine
whether injecting a study drug (siRNA to inhibit expression of hypoxia inducible
gene) improves diabetic macular edema. Dr. Hainsworth is also exploring the use
of gold nano-particles as a platform to deliver anti-angiogenic drugs to specific
targets in th eeye as a potential treatment for ocular neovascularization.
The research and clinical portions of the department are integrated in various ways.
The basic sciences are included in the resident teaching conferences each year.
Segments of this portion are taught by all departmental researchers. Bi-weekly research
seminars are held featuring speakers from both within and outside of the university.
For additional research conducted by the faculty, please go to Faculty
