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Ocular Gene Therapy Laboratory

Our Team

Principal Investigator

Daniel M. Lipinski, MSc, DPhil

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated gene therapy, diabetic retinopathy, inherited retinal disease (e.g., Retinitis pigmentosa), age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Post-Doc Fellows

Ramesh Periasamy, PhD, MS

Post Doctoral Fellow

Ramesh's current research interests are in stem cell differentiation for vision restoration and research tools for diabetic retinopathy.

Graduate Students

Kristina Ertel

Year Entered MCW: 2017

Kristina's current research interests include creating a rAAV-mediated gene therapy treatment for individuals affected by primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Rachel Fehrman

Year Entered MCW: 2019

rfehrman@mcw.edu

I am interested in the development of novel vector technologies that are capable of delivering large genes to cells of the retina.

Erika Shaw

Year Entered MCW: 2018

Erika's current research interests include the role of RPE in age-related macular degeneration and developing gene therapy treatments to prevent and protect against geographic atrophy.

Alexander J. Tate

Research interests are biomarkers and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Hanmeng Zhang

Year Entered MCW: 2016

hanmzhang@mcw.edu

My graduate work will focus on the development of gene therapy strategies to prevent cone photoreceptor loss secondary to advanced rod degeneration in retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Medical Students

Dwani Patel

M3 Student

Advised by Daniel Lipinski, MSc, DPhil, Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy

Research Staff

Gavin Marcoe

Research Technologist

gmarcoe@mcw.edu

I will be working on developing novel vectors that are capable of delivering large genes to photoreceptors in an attempt to overcome this limitation.