Labs

Innate immunity and immune effector mechanisms in the retina; oxidative stress and cell death; models of developmental angiogenesis and neovascularization; inflammation and photoreceptor survival; macular degeneration

Understanding the cellular basis of transparency and accommodation in the lens of the eye

Currently our goals are to elucidate the mechanistic and physiological functions of RGS proteins in the cardiovascular, nervous and visual systems through biochemical, cell biological, genetic and physiologic studies of knockout and transgenic mice. 

Our studies of the visual system in mice are aimed at understanding how the visual cortex is subdivided into different areas, how the network of connections between areas develops, how it is organized in the adult and how it is altered by visual experience. Interareal networks are important for visual perception and visually guided actions. 

The major goal of our laboratory research is to identify the molecular mechanism(s) regulating photoreceptor gene expression in the mammalian retina and the implications of these mechanisms for understanding photoreceptor degenerative diseases and developing therapeutic treatments for these diseases.

Analysis of the temporally regulated program of retinal cell type specification.

We are interested in the transcriptional regulatory networks that underlie the development, evolution, and diseases of photoreceptors in the retina. We are taking a multi-disciplinary approach to the problem of how a network of transcription factors orchestrates the expression of distinct cohorts of downstream genes to build this complex micromachine, the photoreceptor cell.

The laboratory studies the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinal degenerative diseases. 

Dr. Gordon works closely with the Vision Research Coordinating Center. The mission of the Vision Research Coordinating Center (VRCC) is to conduct pilot studies to provide a sound scientific foundation for more definitive larger studies to develop new outcome measures, to design and implement observational studies and clinical trials. The VRCC also serves as the coordinating center for two multi-center clinical studies funded by the National Institutes of Health.