Located in La Jolla, California at UC San Diego, our lab specializes in growing human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) as 3D retinal organoids or as dissociated 2D monolayers to investigate the biology of the developing retina in vitro. Using gene editing techniques (e.g. CRISPR-Cas9) we are exploring the fundamental biology of the retina by engineering cells to express cell-type specific fluorescent protein reporters. We study them from the first neural retina cells to the final stages of differentiation. It is hoped that this information will lead to the potential application as a transplantable source of tissue, a model for eye development and a system to develop “disease-in-a-dish” models for retinal degenerative disease.
For more information, please visit our lab website.
