Research Interests
- The role of the innate immune system in regulating pathologic angiogenesis
- The effects of senescence on macrophage gene regulation
- Oxidative stress, inflammation and the regulation of cell death in models of macular degeneration
- Regulation of photoreceptor cell death by inflammation
- The role of innate immune cells in aging and disease
- Molecular regulation of uveitis
- The role of microRNAs in aging and age-related eye pathologies
- Molecular mechanisms in retinal microglia contributing to eye pathologies
- Contributions of immune cells in
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Lab News
6/2/22: Congratulations, Chas Pfeiffer, on receiving the 2022 Cora Verhagen Award for best trainee presentation in an immunology-sponsored session at ARVO 2022 !
4/30/22: Enjoying our new surroundings before #ARVO2022 kicks off here in Denver! Excited to share what we’ve been working on. Click here for session details – stop by and chat with us!
2/21/22: New publication in collaboration with Deepak Poria and Vladamir Kefalov lab, “EML1 is essential for retinal photoreceptor migration and survival” is now available in Scientific Reports.
2/10/2022: New publication by Dr. Yoshida and Dr. Apte “NAD+ boosting brings tears to aging eyes” now available in Nature Aging.
2/2/2022: Dr. Rajendra Apte, MD PhD has been selected as the UT Southwestern Ophthalmology 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipient. He will give the Distinguished Alumnus Lecture at their 42nd Annual Resident & Alumni Day on June 11, 2022 in Dallas TX.


Current Projects:
- Investigating the mechanisms underlying photoreceptor cell death in models of retinal disease
- Investigating the role of the innate immune system in regulating angiogenesis
- Analyzing the macrophage transcriptome and its effects on aging
- Examining the mechanisms responsible for changes in macrophage cell metabolism that may contribute to blinding diseases of the eye
- Using tissue specific deletion of soluble and membrane expressed molecular activators of myeloid cell function in order to define the role of these cells in regulating post-developmental angiogenesis and retinal photoreceptor cell demise
- Elucidating the role of resident microglia in retinal pathologies
- Examining circadian rhythm in retinal immune cells
- Studying the role of senescence and physiologic aging and their contribution to age-associated eye diseases