Disease Programs

Sensory Organs

Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh, PhD (Otolaryngology; Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center )

Her research involves development and regeneration of the mammalian cochlea. With 10% of the population experiencing significant hearing loss figuring out how to regenerate the hair cells is an important goal. It is not clear if the most promising approach will be to use exogenous stem cells or to attempt to stimulate inherent cells to divide and differentiate. This group is looking at all avenues.

Thomas A Reh, PhD (Biological Structure)

Our overall research goal is to understand the cell and molecular biology of regeneration in the eye. We work at the interface between development and regeneration, focusing on the retina, the light responsive part of the eye. The lab is currently divided into a team that studies retinal development and a team that studies retinal regeneration, with the goal of applying the principles learned from developmental biology to design rationale strategies for promoting retinal regeneration in the adult mammalian retina. We have recently developed methods for directing human embryonic stem cells to become retinal progenitors and neurons, and are using them to repair animal models of human retinal degenerations, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Norm Wolf (Pathology)

This lab is planning to explore the possibility that the central zone, a small area of epithelial cells at the anterior center of the lens contains lens epithelial stem, or at least progenitor cells. If we can understand the location, identifying particulars, and response of a lens cell stem cell reserve, it should be possible to proceed with (antioxidant?) prophylactic treatments that will allow people to avoid age-related cataract altogether and, thus, the expense and risk of cataract surgery. Further, findings related to the possibility of a role for oxidative damage to lens epithelial stem cells could apply to stem cells of other tissues, as well.

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