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Jonathan Lu M.D.

Assistant Professor

 

Ophthalmic plastic (eyelid, lacrimal, orbit) clinician and researcher

Joining UCSF Ophthalmology’s Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery division, Dr. Jonathan Lu brings expertise in clinical care and research on orbital inflammation, artificial intelligence, thyroid eye disease, and ocular oncology. Dr Lu performs the full spectrum of oculoplastic surgery including conditions of the eyelid, tear system, and orbit, for both adults and children. 

 

Research Areas:

Deep Learning / AI, Ocular Oncology, Oculoplastics, Thyroid eye disease, orbital inflammation, orbital disease, orbital trauma and fracture
 
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Yoshihiro Ishikawa, PhD.

Assistant Professor

 

Studying the structure-function relationship between collagen and its biosynthetic molecules

Yoshihiro Ishikawa, Ph.D. has studied how collagens are produced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for over 15 years. Using diverse approaches, including biochemical, biophysical, and structural analysis and animal models, I have contributed significantly to the fundamental understanding of how collagen biosynthesis is orchestrated. He has functionally characterized over ten collagen-related biosynthetic molecules, including rER chaperones and enzymes required for posttranslational modifications. Furthermore, his in vitro studies identified unique patterns in collagen posttranslational modifications in different collagen types and specific molecular interactions between rER proteins, collagens, and other extracellular matrix proteins. While many studies on type IV collagen and its mutations using cell biology and model organisms have been reported, it’s still challenging to investigate the details of type IV collagen molecules with biochemical and biophysical approaches. To fill this important gap in our knowledge, he is uniquely qualified to conduct type IV collagen biochemistry and biophysics at UCSF.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/yoshihiro.ishikawa

 

Research Areas:

Gene Research, Retina or Retinal Diseases, Protein Folding and Quality Control
 
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Jonathan Li, M.D.

Assistant Professor

 

Prevention and Treatment of Myopia and its Complications

Dr. Jonathan Li is a comprehensive ophthalmologist subspecializing in the field of myopia, focusing on childhood myopia control as well as refractive and cataract surgery. He is the first international ophthalmologist who has completed the Myopia fellowship at Singapore National Eye Centre, which is located in the current global epicenter of myopia. 
 
His research focuses on clinical risk stratification and imaging to identify myopes most at risk of progression and/or myopic complications, evaluation of novel treatments for myopia in children, and validating myopia research and AI algorithms in a heterogenous North American population. 

 

To Learn More:

 

Research Areas:

Myopia
 
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Seth Blumberg, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

 

Mathematical models of trachoma, healthcare associated infections, and antimicrobial resistance

My research focuses on developing and applying data-driven computational models of infectious diseases that exhibit the potential of elimination (i.e. R < 1). A key goal has been to elucidate risk factors that tip the balance between disease quiescence and emergence. This involves quantification of the impact of patient-specific or population-wide control interventions. Applications include enhancing trachoma elimination programs, mitigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 in congregate settings, characterizing the transmission dynamics of healthcare associated infections and identifying factors responsible for the emergence of antibiotic resistance. My involvement in direct patient care provides a practical perspective of the investigations and metrics that have an immediate impact on clinical guidelines and public health.
 

I am fortunate to be based within the Francis I. Proctor Foundation. The Foundation’s interdisciplinary approach toward alleviating the global burden of infectious disease is innovative, impactful, and intellectually engaging.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/seth.blumberg
https://mindscape.team/

 

Research Areas:

Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Trachoma, Mathematical modeling, Computation, Clinical informatics
 
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Jing (Meghan) Shan, M.D., Ph.D

Assistant Professor

 

AI tools for glaucoma diagnosis and management

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. Early diagnosis and intervention is key to preserving vision. Population wide screening of glaucoma is currently unattainable due to limited glaucoma care resources. The Shan lab thus aims to develop biomimetic AI architectures to empower accurate and scalable disease screening methods. The Shan lab is also interested in extracting information from medical images beyond what human experts may be able to recognize and using that information to improve glaucoma management.

Awards:

Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute – 2024 – UCSF Chen Scholar

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jing.shan

 

Research Areas:

Deep Learning / AI, Glaucoma
 
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Manvi Prakash Maker, MD, MS

Associate Professor

 

Diabetic Eye Care & Medical Retinal Specialist and Cataract Surgeon

Dr. Manvi P Maker is a medical retinal specialist, with specialized training from Harvard's Joslin Diabetes Institute, Beetham Eye Institute. She is an investigator for the collaborative group called the Diabetic Retiinopathy Clinical Research Network, which performs "high quality, collaborative clinical research that improves vision and quality of life for people with retinal diseases". Dr. Maker sees all patients with medical retina issues and also performs cataract surgery. Her research interest expand to include education, primarily at the ophthalmology resident level.  She has been asked to present her education research on numerous occasions, including in Tokyo at the World Ophthalmology Congress.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/manvi.maker
 

Research Areas:

Cataract, Diabetic Retinopathy, Retina or Retinal Diseases, Medical Retina
 
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Neel Pasricha, MD

Assistant Professor

 

Ocular Surface Electrophysiology

Dry eye disease is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface characterized by impaired tear film homeostasis accompanied by ocular symptoms that affects approximately 6.8% of adults in the USA, with a global prevalence as high as 50%. Despite this significant disease burden, there are currently just four FDA-approved therapies for dry eye disease, each targeting only the inflammatory pathway and having limited efficacy. Dr. Pasricha's research will advance novel dry eye disease therapeutics that promote tear fluid secretion by targeting ion transport proteins on epithelial cells lining the ocular surface.

This research utilizes a novel ocular surface potential difference (OSPD) method introduced in animal studies and advanced for use in humans during Dr. Pasricha's residency at UCSF. OSPD measures the electrical potential difference generated across epithelia from apical and basal membrane ion transporters.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/neel.pasricha
 

Research Areas:

Cornea, Dry Eye, Electrophysiology
 
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