Research in my laboratory is aimed at understanding fundamental physiological properties of the eye and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying a variety of complex eye diseases. Of primary interest are the glaucomas, a leading cause of blindness that affects approximately 70 million people worldwide. Glaucoma typically involves three types of events: molecular insults compromising the anterior chamber, increased intraocular pressure, and neurodegenerative retinal ganglion cell loss. Not surprisingly, the biological relationships linking these events are complex. Our approach for studying these events is founded in functional mouse genetics and supplemented by a variety of molecular, cellular, immunological, and neurobiological techniques. The premise for this approach is that stringently performed genetic studies offer great potential for overcoming the natural biological complexity of glaucoma. Current projects in the lab emphasize glaucoma phenotypes occurring in the front of the eye, including the molecular genetics of pigmentary glaucoma, exfoliative glaucoma, and central corneal thickness. We are also interested in new mouse models of glaucoma and have been studying an early onset form of glaucoma in nee mice that is associated with abnormalities of the aqueous drainage structures. In the long term, these studies will contribute to an increased understanding of eye diseases such as glaucoma, and ultimately to improved human therapies.

Current Positions

• Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
• Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Education

• BA in Biology, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
• PhD in Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
• Fellow, The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States

Graduate Program Affiliations

• Biomedical Science (Molecular Physiology and Biophysics)
• Genetics
• Medical Scientist Training Program
• Neuroscience
• Translational Biomedicine

Center, Program and Institute Affiliations

• Cardiovascular Research Center
• Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center
• Institute for Vision Research