Visionary Research — Dr. Nicholas Baker was awarded a $1.5 million grant over four years by the National Eye Institute to study light-responding nerve cells in the eye and the emerging link between their cellular structure and their growth and death cycle. Taking advantage of the large-eyed and genetically tractable fruit fly as a model organism, Dr. Baker’s laboratory will use genetically engineered flies and modern molecular biological techniques to identify key genes and molecules involved in regulating nerve cell survival. The aim of these studies is to gain knowledge that can inform the design of new approaches to treating retinoblastoma, retinal degeneration, and neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Baker is professor of genetics, of developmental & molecular biology, and of ophthalmology & visual sciences.
Posted on: Tuesday, March 20, 2012