John
S. Penn, Ph.D.
Phyllis G. and William B. Snyder Professor
Vice Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual
Sciences
Research Specialty: Retinal Angiogenesis
Research Description:
The Penn lab has a long-standing interest is in the molecular basis
of ocular angiogenesis. The over-reaching goal of our research is
to characterize the process of retinal angiogenesis, and to begin
to develop preventive therapeutic strategies based on understanding
gained from in vitro and in vivo studies. During the past decade,
we have developed and characterized several experimental models,
and we find them particularly well suited for investigations of the
cellular and molecular aspects of angiogenesis in blinding
diseases. We currently utilize these tools (e.g., retinal
microvascular endothelial cells, Muller cells and retinal
astrocytes in culture, and rodent models of retinopathy of
prematurity and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization) to
address a variety of questions related to the regulation of
angiogenesis in disease states of the eye.
Relationship of Research to Diabetes:
Our research relates to diabetic complications arising in the
retina, namely diabetic retinopathy. Our current funding from the
National Eye Institute supports studies of the roles calcium
dysregulation and the action of calcium-dependent signaling events
in the promotion of vascular inflammation seen in early diabetic
retinopathy. Inhibition of this signaling negatively modulates
progression of diabetic retinopathy at multiple points along the
pathologic cascade, increasing the therapeutic potential of this
discrete target.