Joel B. Miesfeld, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, The Eye Institute | Medical College of Wisconsin

Research: “Investigation of RGC number as a glaucoma risk factor”

Research

“Investigation of RGC number as a glaucoma risk factor”

The Miesfeld lab is interested in understanding the gene regulatory networks associated with development and disease of the neural retina, with a focus on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the pathogenic target in glaucoma. Through comparisons of natural retinal development with genetic perturbations of genes and cis regulatory elements of interest, we elucidate the mechanisms leading to congenital and adult-onset retinal diseases. We are currently investigating:

1. The transcription factors, co-activators, co-repressors, and chromatin modifiers contributing to the neural retina/RGC gene regulatory network.
2. The cis regulatory contribution of the Atoh7 shadow and primary enhancers to Atoh7 transcription during retinal neurogenesis.
3. The contribution of RGC number as a risk factor for glaucoma.

Publications

Publications