Lab Members
Ruchira Singh, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Email Ruchira
Research Program Focus:
- Understanding the normal physiology of the human retina
- Using patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to study the molecular mechanism of specific retinal and neurodegenerative diseases that affect the retina
- Pharmacologically targeting certain retinal disorders in relevant animal models and patient-derived hiPSC target cells
Hobbies outside the lab: Reading books, listening to old Hindi music, Sleeping!!!
Ankur Dubey, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email Ankur
Research Focus:
Solving molecular puzzles related to complex cellular anomalies associated with fatal diseases and disorders such as degeneration, imperfect aging, tumors and, immunological errors. Here he is focused on unraveling the...
- Potential Involvement of Disease Relevant Exosomes in the Pathogenesis of AMD using Model Organisms.
Hobbies outside the lab: Learning how to cook, listening to music.
Lal Krishan Kumar, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email Lal Krishan
Research Focus:
Developing in vitro (invito) and in vivo disease models for ocular diseases is crucial for understanding their underlying disease mechanisms and for testing potential treatments.
- Project-1 Elucidating the role of cell-specific CLN3 dysfunction in CLN3-Batten disease.
- Project-2 Investigating the role of PLA2G2A in macular degeneration using mouse model.
Hobbies outside the lab: Cooking, watching news, social work, reading book, using social media.
Sonal Dalvi, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Email Sonal
Research Focus:
- Developing patient-derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) models of macular degeneration using induced pluripotent stem cell technology (iPSCs) to investigate the mechanisms behind maculopathy-related phenotypes and identifying drugs to therapeutically target them.
- Investigating the role of gene-environment interaction in macular degeneration.
- Investigating the pathophysiology of CLN3 Batten disease using iPSC-based disease modeling.
Hobbies outside the lab: Yoga, Sports (Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball), Listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
F. Emira Dogrul, MD
Laboratory Technician
Email Emira
Research Focus:
- Developing a tissue mimetic of the human retina using iPSCs.
- Stem cell maintenance and RPE differentiation.
Hobbies outside the lab: Cooking, coffee tasting, traveling and watching series.
Nathaniel Foley
Laboratory Technician
Email Nathaniel
Research Focus:
- Developing a tissue mimetic of the human retina using iPSCs.
Hobbies outside the lab: Sports (baseball, hockey, Premier League), cooking, brewing, music.
Leah Grego
Laboratory Technician
Email Leah
Research Focus:
- Determining the role of CLN3 gene/protein in the human retina.
- Stem cell maintenance and RPE differentiation.
Hobbies outside the lab: Reading, Hiking and Cooking.
Aryan Bhakhri
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email Aryan
Research Focus:
- Modelling of various Biological/Ocular Systems Through Both Wet and Dry Lab Perspectives, Computational Quantification and Analysis Techniques, Integration of Machine Learning into Analysis.
Hobbies outside the lab: I love playing and watching basketball. Also, I have an obsession with cars and F1 racing!
Paige Gaynier
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email Paige
Research Focus:
- Investigate the influence of e-cigarette vapor extract flavors (menthol/berry with or without nicotine) on drusen formation in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a hallmark of macular degeneration / Investigate the role of RPE-derived exosomes in promoting RPE dysfunction and retinal degeneration in the iPSC model neurodegenerative retinal disorder, CLN3 Batten disease.
Hobbies outside the lab: Watching Sports, going to country concerts, and traveling.
Steven Xie
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Email Steven
Research Focus:
- Working on developing image macros for batch processing quantification for particles and vasculature.
Hobbies outside the lab: Chess, Art, Biking.