CONTACT INFORMATIONCREDENTIALSPUBLICATIONSAmy Kiernan, Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 273-5794Research LabsVisit Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 659Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsAssociate Professor - Department of Ophthalmology (SMD) Associate Professor - Department of Biomedical Genetics (SMD) - JointBiographyResearchSensory organs are unique structures in the body plan of all multicellular organisms that allow perception of the environment. Our lab uses the power of mouse genetics to understand the fundamental molecular pathways involved in sensory development and disease. The eye and the inner ear of the mouse are very similar to humans and thus can serve as good models for understanding key developmental processes. As in humans, many of the specialized cell types in the ear and the eye of the mouse, such as hair cells, photoreceptors and ganglion cells, cannot regenerate when damaged due to genetics, environmental factors, or normal aging. Loss of these important cells leads to irreversible deafness, vestibular dysfunction and vision loss. Therefore, identifying the key molecules involved in the specification of these cell types and their precursors will be important when developing therapies using stem cells, progenitor cells, or gene therapy as well as in understanding the congenital defects associated with mutations in these genes. The long-term goal of this laboratory is to use advanced mouse genetic approaches, including conditional gene targeting and inducible expression systems, to elucidate key molecular pathways involved in different aspects of sensory development. Currently, our lab is studying the role of the Notch signaling pathway and the transcription factor SOX2 in the development of the eye and the inner ear. By understanding some of the basic molecular processes by which sensory organs form and are maintained, we can begin to develop therapies for prevention, repair and regeneration in sense organ disease. Current projects: • Dissecting the molecular pathways leading to anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD) of the eye and its contribution to developmental glaucoma. • The role of the Notch ligand JAGGED1 during sensory precursor development in the inner ear • The role of the transcription factor SOX2 in the development of the prosensory lineage in the inner earCredentialsEducation1992BA | Coll of The Holy CrossBiology1997PhD | Boston CollegeBiologyPublicationsJournal Articles11/23/2022Heffer A, Gilels FA, Kiernan AE. "Deletion of during cochlear maturation leads to rapid supporting cell death and profound deafness." The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience.. 2022 Nov 23; Epub 2022 Nov 23. 11/18/2022Gilels FA, Wang J, Bullen A, White PM, Kiernan AE. "Deletion of the Notch ligand Jagged1 during cochlear maturation leads to inner hair cell defects and hearing loss." Cell death & disease.. 2022 Nov 18; 13(11):971. Epub 2022 Nov 18. 3/5/2020Brown RM, Nelson JC, Zhang H, Kiernan AE, Groves AK. "Notch-mediated lateral induction is necessary to maintain vestibular prosensory identity during inner ear development." Developmental biology.. 2020 Mar 5; Epub 2020 Mar 05. VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONSClose WindowSchedule an appointment with Amy Kiernan, Ph.D.Please answer the following questions to help us find the right appointment for you.Important: If you believe that you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. This website is not intended for emergency care.Have you seen this provider in the last 2 years?YesNoExisting Patient Schedule or request a follow up appointment online through MyChart. If you do not have a MyChart account, please close this window and call the appointment phone number. Amy Kiernan, Ph.D. is currently scheduling for the following appointment type(s): Our policy does not permit patients to establish care with multiple providers within the same practice or specialty without prior approval. If you choose a new provider in the same office, we will cancel the appointment. Please contact the office directly with questions on this policy.