Welcome to the Retinal Physiology and Gene Therapy Lab

Our research bridges the gap from basic biophysics to clinical medicine with a primary focus on optogenetic visual restoration. We are dedicated to understanding the functional capacity of optogenetic vision restoration, including the visual code generated by optogenetic interventions, the impact of these interventions on residual native vision, and the potential consequences of expressing optogenetic tools in the retina.

Another focus of our research is understanding how modulatory ion channel subunits regulate retinal signal processing and how dysfunction of such modulatory subunits leads to retinal disease. A Particularly exiting example is the silent voltage-gated potassium channel subunit Kcnv2, that is expressed in rod and cone photoreceptors. Mutations in the Kcnv2 gene cause an inherited form of blindness termed Cone Dystrophy with Supernormal Rod Responses (CDSRR). We are trying to understand how and with which other ion channel subunits Kcnv2 interacts and how this may contribute to the increased susceptibility of cones in CDSRR. We hope that this will help us to identify novel approaches to treat this inherited retinal disorder.

We employ a wide range of methodologies, from in silico approaches and immunohistochemistry to ex-vivo and in-vivo electrophysiology. Our latest ventures also include the exploration of lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-mediated mRNA delivery to the retina, a promising alternative to traditional gene delivery methods. Importantly, we benefit from a number of inspiring collaborations with researchers from across the world.

We are always seeking highly motivated individuals to join us in our innovative research endeavors.