I am currently a K12 award recipient at the University of Pennsylvania. This grant allows me to spend 75% of my professional time doing benchwork research and the other 25% of my time with clinical opportunities for the institution. My research interest focuses on understanding the genetic basis of glaucoma and using information gathered from large genome-wide association studies to develop novel drugs for the treatment of optic neuropathies including glaucoma. I am particularly interested in addressing the key issue of non-compliance that creates a hindrance to the clinical management of glaucoma using biologic therapy with adeno associated-vector (AAV) gene targets. While my primary focus currently emphasizes the role of SIRT1 as a potential gene target to enhance retinal ganglion cell survival, my ultimate goal is to develop a strategy to replace gene mutations with viral gene transduction in a cell targeted manner using patient samples, with the aim of developing personalized therapy for treating glaucoma at every cell type effected by the disease.
After completing two fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania in Neuro-ophthalmology and Glaucoma, I now see patients in both areas of ophthalmology and continue to pursue understanding of mechanisms of anti-apoptotic pathways to treat diseases involved in optic nerve degeneration and cell protection. I have also actively engaged in clinical research in the glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic fields phenotyping glaucoma patients for enrollment into a Primary Open-Angle African-American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study cohort as well as working with, Noveome, a private pharmaceutical company to treat patients with a new neuro-protective agent that targets retinal ganglion cells in the eye. In addition to research pursues, I see patients once a week that are affected with a variety of ophthalmic disorders ranging from disease of the optic nerve to motility deficits. Additionally, I also operate on patients with cataracts and glaucoma for management of both of these diseases.
From the beginning, while participating in the MD PhD Program at Jefferson, I was trained to use knowledge gained from clinical experience to identify gaps in our current healthcare model. Though I rotated through many excellent labs at Jefferson, I knew that I would receive the best training in the research lab with Scott Waldman, MD PhD. My PhD thesis was completed in the laboratory of Dr. Scott Waldman, where I learned how to generate hypothesis, design experiments, present scientific information, and generate grant funding to support my work. I studied cellular interactions between colon cancer cells and the stromal environment as a potential therapeutic target, using techniques that I still use today in my own laboratory. In his lab, in addition to weekly laboratory meetings to ensure progress, monthly departmental presentations, and numerous teaching responsibilities, I was also taught to secure grants through the NIH as well as from pharmaceutical companies and private organizations. Here, I was also introduced to clinical research through work at the Clinical Research Unit (CRU). During all my responsibilities at Jefferson and in the laboratory, although busy and extremely challenging, I continue to feel very prepared to enter the life of an academic physician.
In addition to excellent research training, Jefferson offered me excellent clinical training allowing me to easily navigate patients in numerous academic hospital settings. I have completed two clinical fellowships in Neuro-ophthalmology and Glaucoma, and despite proliferative work in research, I am still complimented by patients and hospital staff about my bedside manner and clinical skills, a gift developed during clinical rotations at Jefferson. Jefferson blends the perfect combination of expert clinical skills and superb research training, to truly prepare students for a career in academic medicine.