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Ocular Gene Therapy Laboratory

Our Team

Principal Investigator

Daniel M. Lipinski, MSc, DPhil

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Assistant Professor of 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

Graduate Student

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

Rachel Fehrman

Graduate Student

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

Graduate Student

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.

Dwani Patel

G4 Student

ddpatel@mcw.edu

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

Hanmeng Zhang

Graduate Student

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

Nathan Li

Medical Student

My current research interests include working to develop rAAV technology to facilitate topical gene therapy to the cornea for individuals affected by open angle glaucoma (POAG).

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.