Alumni

Kannan V. Manian​, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email Kannan

Research Focus:

• Developing a tissue mimetic of the human retina using iPSCs
• In vitro disease modeling of retinal degenerative diseases using CRISPR-Cas9 technology
• Delineating the role of local (RPE, choriocapillaris) vs. systemic (e.g. serum) factors in development of AMD and related macular dystrophies

Hobbies outside the lab:  Soccer, Music-acoustic Guitar, Photography, and Cooking!!!

Whitney Spencer
Laboratory Technician
Email Whitney

Research Focus:

• Investigating visual cycle processing in iPSC model
• Comparing visual cycle processing in control and patient-derived RPE cells

Hobbies outside the lab:  Reading, hiking, and hockey!!!

Anthony Emanuel
Graduate Student
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Research Focus:

• Determining the role of TNF-induced pro-inflammatory signaling in AMD and similar macular dystrophies
• Developing and characterizing and  iPSC- derived tissue mimetic of the RPE-Bruch’s membrane-choriocapillaris complex
• Determine how TIMP3 dysfunction lead to development of AMD and SFD relevant molecular and pathological changes

Hobbies outside the lab:  Snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, video games and the Buffalo Bills!!!

Jimin Han
Graduate Student
Email Jimin

Research Focus:

• Investigating the mechanism of vision loss in CLN3-Batten disease
• Determining the role of CLN3 gene/protein in the human retina
• Studying POS phagocytosis machinery by iPSC and primary RPE cells

Hobbies outside the lab:  Reading, painting, and finding new places to eat!!!

Michael Roll
Laboratory Technician
Email Michael

Research Focus:

• Investigating the Role of Extracellular Matrix Alteration(s) in Macular Degeneration
• Interrogating the role of gene-environment interaction in macular degeneration

Hobbies outside the lab:  Sports (soccer and tennis), cooking, listening to music, and the Buffalo Bills!!!