Research Interests


  • The role of the innate immune system in regulating pathologic angiogenesis
  • The effects of senescence and physiologic aging 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
  • Mechanisms underlying photoreceptor cell death in models of retinal disease





Lab News

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3-14-24: New review “Retinal Detachment” available now in Nature Reviews Disease Primers.

3-13-24: Best of luck to post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Ryo Terao as he embarks on his new position at University of Tokyo!

2-26-24 Congratulations to DBBS graduate student, Tim Lee for the successful defense of his PhD thesis!  Way to go, DR. Lee!

1-16 -24: New publication from first author DBBS graduate student Tim Lee identifying a novel role for a specific AMPK catalytic isoform in rods.  “Catalytic isoforms of AMP-activated protein kinase differentially regulate IMPDH activity and photoreceptor neuron function” is available for pre-press preview in JCI Insight.

graphical abstract1-6-24: New publication from first author MSTP Dr. Joseph Lin in collaboration with the Ruzycki lab using human genomic data to identify signaling pathways in AMD. “Targeting cell-type-specific, choroid-peripheral immune signaling to treat age-related macular degeneration” is available now in Cell Reports Medicine.