Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy Medical College of Wisconsin 8701 Watertown Plank Road Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509
Phone: (414) 456-7810 FAX: (414) 456-6517 email: dsidjani@mcw.edu
List of publications
Education: B.S. Biochemistry, The University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 1989 Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University/Argonne National Laboratory, IL, 1995
Graduate Programs: Program in Cell and Developmental Biology Program in Neuroscience
Research Area: Hereditary Eye
The visual system provides us with eyesight that enables us to recognize the world around us and participate in daily life. In the United States, it is estimated that about 80 million people have potentially blinding eye diseases and 1.1 million people are legally blind. In order to develop novel therapies, it is necessary to expand our knowledge of biological processes that lead to eye diseases. The aim of the Sidjanin's lab research is to identify novel genes essential for normal eye development and normal vision. As a part of our research we apply molecular, genetics, genomic, and computational approaches to map the disease loci and ultimately clone genes and mutations responsible for the disease phenotype. Our research will facilitate better understanding of the disease process at the molecular level and will ultimately aid in the development of novel therapies that may reduce, reverse, or altogether prevent formation of the disease.
Funding 2004-2009 NIH/NEI R01 EY015173, PI, Genetic studies on models of nuclear cataracts 2005-2008 Morris Animal Foundation, D05CA-049, PI, Candidate Gene Analysis in Dogs Affected with Hereditary Cataracts