Expertise:
Electroretinography, blood flow,
retinal imaging, PR culture and materials
Nitric oxide is a remarkable free gas that has many physiological
and pathophysiological roles throughout the body including
the eye. NO is produced by L-arginine and nitric oxide synthase
(NOS). The different forms of NOS are expressed in many parts
of the retina. NO is involved in blood control as well as
signal processing within the retina. Recent studies suggested
that NO may be involved in retinal vascular diseases. Understanding
the role of NO in both normal and diseased eyes would help
to decipher the disease process and in designing potential
treatments. However, it has been difficult to study the role
of NO in an intact eye due to a lack of experimental techniques
and quantitative tools to evaluate the effects.
In Dr. Kang Derwent’s laboratory, three approaches
are used to investigate the role of NO in both normal and
vascular diseased animal models. First, electrophysiological
recordings and modeling are used to understand the signal
processing by the retinal neuronal cells and how they are
affected with altered intraretinal NO levels. Second, retinal
blood flow is measured using a non-invasive scanning laser
ophthalmoscope. Applying particle tracking theory, we can
image and measured the blood velocity. The team is also developing
a computational model based on measured values and images.
Finally, in collaboration with a group from Northwestern
University, we are measuring retinal oxygenation and NO’s
effects on availability of oxygen. Oxygen transport modeling
is also utilized to assess the oxygen consumption by the
retinal cells and how it is affected when intraretinal NO
level is altered. Combination of these techniques and quantitative
tools is unique and would yield a valuable insight into the
understanding of NO mechanism in the eye.
Dr. Kang Derwent also plans to investigate the role of
NO in two of the most devastating vascular diseases: occlusion
and diabetic retinopathy. The team is able to produce an
equivalent animal model of these human retinal vascular diseases
and is currently studying how NO is involved in the cause
of the diseases and investigating potential treatment options.
We have recently begun investigation on possible retinal
cell replacement therapy. Photoreceptor degeneration is often
a cause of blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa
(RP) or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Currently
there is no effective therapy for these diseases. Our goal
is to replace the degenerated photoreceptors through use
of implantable healthy cultured cells.
Specific research projects:
-- Thrombotic retinal occlusion and retinal blood flow
-- Thrombotic retinal occlusion and visual function
-- Role of nitric oxide on normal blood flow and visual
function
-- Diabetic retinopathy
-- Computational models of retinal blood flow
-- Retinal cell replacement therapy
-- Clinical ERG recordings
Laboratory personnel:
Kristen Lorentz, Research Assistant
lorentz@iit.edu
Shanti Tummala, Graduate student
shanti_tummala@yahoo.com
Astrid Zayas, Graduate student
zayaast@iit.edu
Kristen Trianadafilou, Graduate student
triandafilou@iit.edu
Sanja Benac, Graduate student
sanja.benac@gmail.com
Grace Lin, Undergraduate
lingrac@iit.edu
Rebecca Hannah, Undergraduate
hannreb@iit.edu
Chris Tuthill, Undergraduate
tuthchr@iit.edu
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