Kaushal Research Laboratory
Our biomedical researchers conduct studies to better understand the cellular and molecular causes of eye diseases and contribute to the development of innovative, potential new treatments and cures. In our state-of-the-art laboratory, we perform research on novel small molecules, stem cells, gene therapy, protein misfolding associated with retinal degeneration, and other topics. The potential use of novel small molecules as therapies for ocular diseases is a prime research focus of the Ophthalmology Department. This research includes investigating the potential cytoprotective effects of specific small molecules to corrrect cellular protein misfolding and related research in animal models. The Kaushal Lab has developed an in silico high throughput assay to rapidly screen large chemical libraries.
The Kaushal Lab is also exploring the potential of low energy lasers as a potential treatment for certain forms of age-related macular degeneration.
In addition, the Kaushal Lab is collaborating with RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation on self-delivering RNAi (sd-rxRNA) research, potentially advancing the field of RNAi therapeutics, based on UMMS Nobel Prize winner Dr. Craigh Mello's co-discovery of RNAi.
Selected Publications
Kleinberg T, Tzekov R, Stein L, Ravi N, Kaushal S. 2011. Vitreous substitutes: a comprehensive review. Survey of Ophthalmology. Accepted for publication.
Stein L, Roy K, Lei L, Kaushal S. 2011. Clinical gene therapy for the treatment of RPE65-associated Leber congenital amaurosis. Expert Opin Biol Ther. Accepted for publication.
Clemson CM, Tzekov R, Krebs M, Checchi JM, Bigelow C, Kaushal S. 2010. Therapeutic potential of valproic acid for retinitis pigmentosa. British Journal of Ophthalmology. July 20, 2010 [epub ahead of print - doi: 10.1136/bjo.2009.175356]
Krebs MP, Holden DC, Joshi P, Clark III CL, Lee AH, Kaushal S. 2010. Molecular mechanisms of rhodopsin retinitis pigmentosa and the efficacy of pharmacological rescue. Journal of Molecular Biology. Nov 11, 2009 [epub ahead of print].
Roy KL, Stein L, Kaushal S. 2010. Ocular gene therapy: an evaluation of recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy interventions for the treatment of ocular disease. Human Gene Therapy. July 2010 [epub ahead of print].
Harris JR, Fisher R, Jorgenssen M, Kaushal S, Scott EW. 2009. CD133 Progenitor cells from the bone marrow contribute to retinal pigment epithelium repair. Stem Cells 27(2):457-466.
Krebs MP, White DA, Kaushal S. 2009. Biphasic photoreceptor degeneration induced by light in a T17M rhodopsin mouse model of cone bystander damage. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 50(6):2956-2965.
Noorwez SM, Sama RR, Kaushal S. 2009. Calnexin improves the folding efficiency of mutant rhodopsin in the presence of pharmacological chaperone 11-cis retinal. Journal of Biological Chemistry 284(48):3333-33342.
Swindle KE, Shah M, Hamilton PD, Eskin TA, Kaushal S, Ravi N. 2009. Rabbit study of an in situ forming hydrogel vitreous substitute. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 50:4840-4846.
Noorwez, S.M., D.A. Ostrov, J.H. McDowell, M.P. Krebs, and S. Kaushal. 2008. A high-throughput screening method for small-molecule pharmacologic chaperones of misfolded rhodopsin. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 49:3224-3230.
Aleman TS, Cideciyan AV, Sumaroka A, Windsor EA, Herrera W, White DA, Kaushal S, Naidu A, et al. 2008. Retinal laminar architecture in human retinitis pigmentosa caused by rhodopsin gene mutations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 49:1580-1590.
Cunningham MA, Edelman JL, Kaushal S. 2008. Intravitreal steroids for macular edema: the past, the present, and the future. Surv Ophthalmol 53:139-149.
White, D.A., J.J. Fritz, W.W. Hauswirth, S. Kaushal, and A.S. Lewin. 2007. Increased sensitivity to light-induced damage in a mouse model of autosomal dominant retinal disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 48:1942-1951.