Armin Afshar, MD, MBA, MAS

Assistant Professor
 

Treatment of Eye Tumors and Disorders of the Retina and Vitreous


Dr. Armin Afshar is a vitreoretinal surgeon and ocular oncologist on the UCSF faculty, with an academic career blending clinical practice, research, teaching and administration. He serves as the Director of the Ocular Oncology Service at UCSF and the Director of Tele Ophthalmology for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. His research program is funded by the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research to Prevent Blindness, and That Man May See.

Dr. Afshar’s specialty is in the treatment of eye tumors and disorders of the retina and vitreous. In addition to expertise in retinal diseases and surgery, he has special training and experience in the management of ocular surface tumors of the conjunctiva and cornea, as well as intra-ocular tumors involving the iris, ciliary body, choroid, retina, vitreous and optic nerves.

 

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/armin.afshar

 

Research Areas:

Deep Learning / AI, Ocular Oncology, Retina or Retinal Diseases
 
 
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Dan Schwartz, MD

Professor

 

Devices and Technologies that Address Unmet Needs in Ophthalmology

Dr. Schwartz, Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Retina service, is a vitreoretinal surgeon whose research has focused on the development devices and technologies that address unmet needs in ophthalmology. In collaboration with Caltech, he co-invented and helped develop a light-adjustable intraocular lens material that can be used to calibrate residual refractive error after cataract surgery (FDA approvedin 2017) He also co-invented and helped develop OCT angiography as a non-invasive and superior alternative to fluorescein angiography. Current work includes the development of light adjustable materials that can be used to modify scleral biomechanics so as to retard myopia development. Dr. Schwartz has mentored many medical students, residents, and fellows, and has provided research mentorship to over 18 postdoctoral fellows.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/dan.schwartz


 

Research Areas:

Retina or Retinal Diseases, Macular Degeneration, Myopia
 
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Bob Bhisitkul, MD, PhD

Professor

 

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment and New Retinal Therapies

Dr. Bhisitkul, Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Retina Fellowship, is a vitreoretinal specialist who in collaboration with UCSF’s bioengineering group has developed a novel thin-film drug delivery system that can produce long term zero order kinetics through regulating pore sizes at nanoscale. This is now being tested <em>in vivo</em> for delivery of anti-VEGF agents. In addition to his bioengineering projects, he directed the SEVEN-UP cohort study of long-term outcomes in age-related macular degeneration treatment and is an investigator in major clinical trials of new retinal therapies. As Director of the Retina Fellowship, Dr. Bhisitkul has mentored many clinical fellows as well as research fellows. Scholars interested in ocular drug delivery and clinical trials will be interested in the Bhisitkul lab.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/bob.bhisitkul


 

Research Areas:

Macular Degeneration, Retina or Retinal Diseases
 
 
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Erik Ullian, PhD

Professor

 

Synapse Formation and Function in the Visual System

Dr. Ullian, Professor of Ophthalmology, studies molecular mechanisms that regulate synapse formation and function in the visual system. He has used cell culture systems to screen for genes and small RNAs that impact synaptic transmission. His laboratory has identified the miRNA pathway as an important regulator of a variety of neuronal and synaptic processes relevant to visual system development. The Ullian lab is also studying the interactions between neurons and glia that are required for proper development and function of the nervous system. He is developing astrocyte, neuron, and microglial 3D organoids to model key aspects of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, Dr. Ullian has mentored K awardees, including Dr. Yvonne Ou. Scholars who are interested in the interactions of neurons and glia in the visual system will be interested in the Ullian lab.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/erik.ullian
https://ullianlab.ucsf.edu/

 

Research Areas:

Visual System Development, Retina or Retinal Diseases, Stem Cell Research
 
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Aparna Lakkaraju, PhD

Professor

 

Effective Therapies for Inherited and Age-Related Macular Degenerations

Research in the Lakkaraju laboratory builds on fundamental insights from retinal cell biology to develop effective therapies for inherited and age-related macular degenerations (AMD). These diseases destroy central high-resolution vision in over 30 million people globally and have limited therapeutic options. We study the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which performs numerous functions indispensable for vision, and is a key site of injury in macular degenerations. Current areas of research focus include: 1. Autophagy and extracellular vesicles in the RPE; 2.Mitochondrial dynamics, metabolic stress and inflammation in the retina; 3. The role of complement activation in AMD; 4. Biophysical approaches to understanding the genetic basis of AMD; and 5. Novel drug targets for macular degenerations. Using advanced live imaging of the RPE and retina, we recently identified promising FDA-approved drugs that can be repositioned to treat macular degenerations.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/aparna.lakkaraju
https://ophthalmology.ucsf.edu/lakkarajulab/

 

Research Areas:

Macular Degeneration, Retina or Retinal Diseases
 
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Jacque Duncan, MD

Professor

 

High resolution retinal imaging in inherited retinal degeneration

Dr. Duncan, Professor of Ophthalmology, leads an NIH-funded translational vision science laboratory focused on adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) imaging of human photoreceptors to discover mechanisms of cone death in inherited retinal degenerations. In addition, Dr. Duncan’s group is studying changes in cone structure and function during disease progression and testing the efficacy of treatments that aim to slow progression. Along with her collaborator Austin Roorda, PhD (UC Berkeley), they reported the first studies of cone structure during disease progression and in response to an experimental treatment. Dr. Duncan is also Co-PI with Joseph Carroll, PhD (Medical College of Wisconsin) on an NEI-funded Audacious Goals Initiatives proposal that will develop cone-dominant retinal disease models as a resource for translational vision research. Dr. Duncan’s group will characterize photoreceptor structure and function in patients with cone-rod dystrophy. In addition, Dr. Duncan is the Chair of the Foundation Fighting Blindness Consortium Executive Committee. She is the study chair of a natural history study examining the rate of retinal degeneration due to mutations in the USH2a gene (the RUSH2A study). She also serves as principal investigator on a number of clinical trials of treatments and natural history of disease progression in inherited retinal degenerations including retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jacque.duncan


 

Research Areas:

Retina or Retinal Diseases, Retinitis Pigmentosa or Retinal Degenerations, Macular Degeneration, Adaptive optics, Retinal imaging
 
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Douglas Gould, PhD

Professor

 

Studying the biological functions of the extracellular matrix and its role in human disease

Our broad mission is to understand the biological functions of a specialized extracellular matrix structure called the Basement Membrane.

Our primary focus is a multi-system disorder that is caused by mutations in the genes encoding type IV collagen alpha 1 (COL4A1) and COL4A2.

Our goal is to understand the tissue-specific molecular mechanisms that underlie this syndrome and develop mechanism-based therapies that can prevent, reduce or delay disease in patients.

The Gould lab uses translational genetics to study the role that extracellular matrix proteins play in a multisystem connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in type IV collagens. Individuals with mutations in type IV collagen alpha 1 (COL4A1) or alpha 2 (COL4A2) often have a complex syndrome presenting with cerebrovascular, ocular, renal and muscular manifestations. Approximately one-third of these individuals have developmental defects of the eye leading to impaired vision or early onset glaucoma. The Gould lab uses genetic models to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying pathology in each organ that might represent therapeutic targets to prevent, reduce, or delay disease. Dr. Gould is the Director and Vice Chair for research and is dedicated trainee advocate and mentor with a commitment to inclusivity. The Gould lab provides research opportunities for Scholars interested in state-of-the-art genetic approaches, extracellular matrix biology, cell biology, physiology, biochemistry and advanced imaging.

 

To Learn More:

https://profiles.ucsf.edu/douglas.gould


 

Research Areas:

Glaucoma, Retina or Retinal Diseases, Gene Research
 
 
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