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Flaum Eye Institute / Research / Labs / Singh Lab / Lab Members

 

Lab Members

Lab Photos

Ruchira Singh, Ph.D.

Ruchira Singh, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Email Ruchira

Research Program Focus:

  • Understanding the normal physiology of the human retina
  • Using patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to study the molecular mechanism of specific retinal and neurodegenerative diseases that affect the retina
  • Pharmacologically targeting certain retinal disorders in relevant animal models and patient-derived hiPSC target cells

Hobbies outside the lab:  Reading books, listening to old Hindi music, Sleeping!!!

Dalvi

Sonal Dalvi, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email Sonal

Research Focus:

  • Investigating the Role of Extracellular Matrix Alteration(s) in Macular Degeneration
  • Determining the Role of CLN3 Gene/Protein in the Human Retina
  • Interrogating the role of gene-environment interaction in macular degeneration

Hobbies outside the lab: Travel (especially National Parks), Sports (tennis, volleyball & swimming) fashion designing!!!

Manian

Kannan V. Manian​, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Email Kannan

Research Focus:

  • Developing a tissue mimetic of the human retina using iPSCs
  • In vitro disease modeling of retinal degenerative diseases using CRISPR-Cas9 technology
  • Delineating the role of local (RPE, choriocapillaris) vs. systemic (e.g. serum) factors in development of AMD and related macular dystrophies

Hobbies outside the lab:  Soccer, Music-acoustic Guitar, Photography, and Cooking!!!

Han

Jimin Han
Graduate Student
Email Jimin

Research Focus:

  • Investigating the mechanism of vision loss in CLN3-Batten disease
  • Determining the role of CLN3 gene/protein in the human retina
  • Studying POS phagocytosis machinery by iPSC and primary RPE cells

Hobbies outside the lab:  Reading, painting, and finding new places to eat!!!

Emanuel

Anthony Emanuel
Graduate Student
Email Anthony

Research Focus:

  • Determining the role of TNF-induced pro-inflammatory signaling in AMD and similar macular dystrophies
  • Developing and characterizing and  iPSC- derived tissue mimetic of the RPE-Bruch’s membrane-choriocapillaris complex
  • Determine how TIMP3 dysfunction lead to development of AMD and SFD relevant molecular and pathological changes

Hobbies outside the lab:  Snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, video games and the Buffalo Bills!!!

Spencer

Whitney Spencer
Laboratory Technician
Email Whitney

Research Focus:

  • Investigating visual cycle processing in iPSC model
  • Comparing visual cycle processing in control and patient-derived RPE cells

Hobbies outside the lab:  Reading, hiking, and hockey!!!

Roll

Michael Roll
Laboratory Technician
Email Michael

Research Focus:

  • Investigating the Role of Extracellular Matrix Alteration(s) in Macular Degeneration
  • Interrogating the role of gene-environment interaction in macular degeneration

Hobbies outside the lab:  Sports (soccer and tennis), cooking, listening to music, and the Buffalo Bills!!!