Huxlin Labs
Krystel Huxlin, PhD
- Associate Professor - Department of Ophthalmology (SMD) - Primary Appointment
- Associate Professor - Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy (SMD)
- Associate Professor - Center for Visual Science (RC)
- PhD | Neuroscience | Australia-U Sydney Fac Med (1994)
Research Overview
Dr. Huxlin directs the research efforts of two separate laboratories at Flaum Eye Institute. In the visual training and rehabilitation lab, the goal is to understand the cellular basis and psychophysical characteristics of visual perceptual plasticity in adulthood. Of particular interest is contrasting the plastic potential of intact visual systems with the visual plasticity that can be attained by adult visual systems that have sustained permanent damage at different levels of their hierarchical organization. One avenue of research currently being pursued is to use anatomical tools, molecular biology, visual psychophysics, virtual reality and functional imaging (fMRI) to characterize changes at the cellular and systems levels that are key to the recovery of visual functions after brain damage in adulthood. The laboratory has recently begun applying this knowledge to patients with visual cortical damage following stroke, tumor or trauma with the ultimate goal of developing behavioral and pharmacological strategies to promote visual recovery following such damage.
The second laboratory deals with corneal wound healing and physiological optics. This work is intended to provide new insights into the biological causes and perceptual consequences of increased optical aberrations in the eye following manipulations or the ocular surface, including laser refractive surgery and corneal transplantation. Using anterior segment optical coherence tomography, in vivo confocal imaging, wavefront sensing, histology, cell culture and molecular biology, we are beginning to understand the relationship between different aspects of ocular wound healing and optical quality in the eye. This knowledge is essential for the ultimate development of both intra- and post-operative strategies to improve the optical outcome of ocular surgeries and wounds. In collaboration with Dr. Wayne Knox, the laboratory is also developing a revolutionary new refractive method called IRIS (for Intra-tissue Refractive Index Shaping). IRIS uses a low-energy, high-repetition rate femtosecond laser to non-invasively alter the refractive index and optical properties of different ocular tissues. Initial research has focused on the cornea and lens, but now work is beginning to use IRIS to customize and correct aberrations in implanted IOLs. Because it does not cause tissue damage or cell death, IRIS offers great promise as a novel tool to non-invasively customize refractive power and higher order aberration correction without the side effects normally induced by wound healing.
Current Projects
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Recent Publications (Visual Training & Rehabilitation Lab)
Iorizzo DB, Riley ME, Hayhoe M, Huxlin KR (2011). "Differential impact of partial cortical blindness on gaze strategies when sitting and walking - an immersive virtual reality study." Vision Research. 2011; May 25;51(10):1173-84.
Martin T, Huxlin KR, Kavcic V (2010). "Motion-onset visual evoked potentials predict performance during a global direction discrimination task." Neuropsychologia. 2010; Oct;48(12):3563-72.
More papers 
Recent Publications (Cornea Lab)
Xi X, McMillan DH, Lehmann GM, Sime PJ, Libby RT, Huxlin KR, Feldon SE, Phipps RP, (2011). "Ocular fibroblast diversity: implications for inflammation and ocular wound healing." Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2011; Jul 1;52(7):4859-65.
Lehmann GM, Xi X, Kulkarni AA, Olsen KC, Pollock SJ, Baglole CJ, Gupta S, Casey AE, Huxlin KR, Sime PJ, Feldon SE, Phipps RP, (2011). "The aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand ITE inhibits TGFβ1-induced human myofibroblast differentiation." American Journal of Pathollogy.2011; Apr;178(4):1556-67.
More papers
Contact
Krystel Huxlin, Ph.D.
University of Rochester
School of Medicine and Dentistry 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 659
Rochester, NY 14642
VR Lab Contacts
Anasuya Das, M.S.
(585) 273-1479
Cornea Lab Contacts
Key-Im Jeon, Ph.D.
Corneal Wound Healing
(585) 273-4856
Margaret DeMagistris, B.S.
Corneal Optics
(585) 273-3260
Collaborators
Jens Buhren, M.D.
Former Lab Members
Ferhina Ali, B.S.
Ryan Bisbey, M.D.
Emily Brandon, B.S.
Jens Bühren, M.D.
Brad Feldman, M.D.
Micki Flynn, B.S.
Krista Gigone, M.S.
Shawn Kenner, B.S.
Brian Kraftschik, B.S.
Jason Lyons, M.D.
Tim Martin, Ph.D.
Lana Nagy, B.S.
Tracy Price, M.S.
Meghan Riley, M.S .
Jennifer Swanton, B.S.
Nadan Wang, M.S
Jennifer Williams, B.S.
