Pilot Projects

The mission of the MCG Vision Discovery Institute is to engage in high impact research and discovery related to visual function and diseases, the outcome of which is expected to have far-reaching clinical applications for patients suffering from blindness and visual disorders.

Proposals are requested from MCG faculty whose projects will allow the VDI to achieve its mission. Preference is given to clinically-relevant projects that can be developed into larger extramurally-funded projects.

The following are research projects that have been funded for FY 2010-2011

Investigators	Project title
Caldwell, R. B., Ph.D., and Brooks, S., MD	Hyperoxia therapy for ischemic retinopathy
Saul, A., Ph.D., Mumm, J., Ph.D., and Bogorad, D., MD	Development of novel electroretinographic techniques
El-Remessy, A., Ph.D., Bollinger, K., M.D., Ph.D. and Prosser, A., M.D.	Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) is a neuroglial inflammatory mediator in Glaucoma and models of optic neuropathy
Liou, G., Ph.D., Saul, A. Ph.D., and Fatteh, N., M.D.	Development of New Anti-Inflammatory Therapies for Diabetic Retinopathy
Mumm, J., Ph.D., Nussbaum, J., M.D. and Rempala, G., Ph.D.	Genetic Circuitry of Cell-Specific Retinal Neuron Regeneration
Bollinger, K., M.D., Ph.D., Bogorad, D., M.D., Looney, S., Ph.D., Mills, J., M.D., and Ulrich, L., M.D.	Assessing Susceptibility to POAG with Proteomic Biomarkers from Aqueous Humor
Bradley, K, EDD, OTR/L, FAOTA and Yang, Z. Ph.D.	The Relationship between 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional Visual Scanning and Performances in Safe, Daily Living and Environmental Performances: A Correlation Study among Adult Subjects with Vision Impairments.
Ganapathy, V., Ph.D., Nussbaum, J., M.D., and Patterson, E., M.D.	Prevalence of HFE mutation (C282Y) in AMD
Hegde, J., Ph.D. and Odel, J., M.D.	Using the Neuroscientific Principles of Ambiguity Reduction to the Rehabilitative Treatment of Optic Neuropathies and Cerebral Visual Disorders
Martin, P., Ph.D., and Nussbaum, J., M.D.	Analysis of GPR109A, a Novel Anti-Inflammatory Drug Target in RPE
Gupta, P., M.D. and El-Remessy, A., Ph.D.	Role of Nerve Growth Factor in the Development of Keratitis and Dry Eye
Baban, Babak, Ph.D., MBA, Caldwell, R., Ph.D. and Gupta, P., M.D.	Modulation of Indoleamine2.3 dioxygenase (IDO) in experimental uveitis: A potential novel therapeutic approach
Al-Shabrawey, M., Ph.D. and Nussbaum, J., M.D.	12-Lipoxyegnase pathway of arachidonic acide metabolism in diabetic retinopathy

 

The following are research projects that were funded for 2009 - 2010

Investigators	Project title
Bollag, W. Ph.D., Gupta, P., MD and Bollag, R., MD, Ph.D.	The corneal epithelium phospholipase D2/Aquaporin-3 signaling module in eye disease
Bartoli, M., Ph.D., Mammen, A., MD, and Yee, K., MD	Validation of the neuroimmune regulatory protein CD47 as an immunological biomarker of diabetic retinopathy
Liou, G., Ph.D., Khan, S., MD and Caldwell, R. B., Ph.D.	Development of new anti-inflammatory therapies for diabetic retinopathy
Caldwell, R. B., Ph.D., and Brooks, S., MD	Regulation of retinal angiogenesis - Role of oxygen in promoting normal vascular growth and preventing vitreous neovascularization in ischemic retinopathy
Saul, A., Ph.D., Mumm, J., Ph.D., and Bogorad, D., MD	Development of novel electroretinographic techniques
Ganapathy, V., Ph.D., Nussbaum, J.,MD and Patterson, E., MD	Prevelance of HFE mutation in age-related macular degeneration
Hegde, J., Ph.D., and Odel, J., MD	Using the neuroscientific principles of ambiguity reduction to the rehabilitative treatment of optic neuropathies and cerebral visual disorders
Yang, Z., Ph.D., and Bradley, K., EdD, and Cosper, S., MS	Applications of a statistical theory of vision to vision rehabilitation