Research seminars
About the series
This seminar series presented by the Department of Ophthalmology, Vision and Anatomical Sciences (OVAS), Wayne State University School of Medicine is one of the major platforms to enhance our knowledge base, promote innovation, stimulate new ideas and cultivate collaboration. It also emphasizes the education of the next generation of scientists.
The Distinguished Speaker Series hosts accomplished experts from all over the world to introduce their discoveries, cutting-edge technologies and translational research experience in their own words. The series covers a wide range of topics from Ophthalmology, Vision Sciences, Ocular Immunology, Neurobiology, Genetics and Imaging; from molecular mechanisms of health and pathogenesis of diseases to the development of new treatments.
All seminars will be held in the departmental conference room and broadcast live through Zoom. The Distinguished Speaker Series brings the best of the world to Detroit, and disseminates knowledge to the world. Through engaging conversations with faculty members and trainees, it stimulates new innovative ideas and collaboration, and elevates the horizon of the students and trainees.
The seminars are held on Thursdays, at noon, once a month during the academic year. Please join us in person or virtually on Zoom.
Next seminar
The cone synapse at nanoscale: single protein localization and single vesicle transmission
Distinguished Speaker
Steve H DeVries, MD, PhD
Professor
Ophthalmology & Neuroscience
Doheny Eye Institute
University of California, Los Angeles
November 21, 2024
Noon - 1 p.m.
On-site location:
OVAS departmental library
Scott Hall, room #8366
Virtual attendees: join via Zoom For more information or comments and suggestions, please email:
Seminar schedule
Fall 2024
| Date | Speaker | Topic | Host | Series Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/19/2024 | Director, Institute for Immunology; Professor Physiology & Biophysics, Ophthalmology | Neutrophil activation and cell death in Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis | Shunbin Xu | Distinguished Speaker |
| 10/17/2024 | Associate Professor Ophthalmology | Mechanobiology of Retinal Vascular Inflammation and Degeneration in Diabetes. | Ahmed Ibrahim | Distinguished Speaker |
| 10/31/2024 | Trainee seminar 1 Hubert Osei Acheampong, PhD candidate Abdul Hassan, PhD | Application and validation of a novel mitophagy reporter in Drosophila melanogaster Cellular mechanisms of pupil light reflex in the mouse retina | Ryan Insolera and Tomomi Ichinose
| Trainee Seminar |
| 11/7/2024 | Assistant Professor Ophthalmology, immunonology and genetic medicine | Novel Therapies for Retinal Atrophy in Dry AMD and Stargardt Disease | Nikhlesh Singh | Distinguished Speaker |
| 11/21/2024 | Professor Ophthalmology & Neuroscience | The cone synapse at nanoscale: single protein localization and single vesicle transmission. | Tomomi Ichinose | Distinguished Speaker |
| 12/5/2024 | Mary and Marian Robinson Chair in Macular Degeneration, Associate Professor and Research Director Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neuroscience | The Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling pathway controls the blood-retina barrier and is a target for therapeutic intervention | Nikhlesh Singh | Distinguished Speaker |
Spring 2025
| Date | Speaker | Topic | Host | Series Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/23/2025 | Professor of Optometry & Vision Science | TBD | Shunbin Xu | Distinguished Speaker |
| 2/6/2025 | Professor College of Optometry | TBD | Shunbin Xu | Distinguished Speaker |
| 2/20/2025 | Thomas J. Beatson, Jr. Professor of Medicine and Professor of Ophthalmology, Chief Scientific Officer | TBD | Bruce Berkowitz | Distinguished Speaker |
| 3/6/2025 | Associate professor Ophthalmology, CDRB | TBD | Ashok Kumar | Distinguished Speaker |
| 3/20/2025 | Tomomi Itchinose, MD, PhD Professor OVAS | TBD | Shunbin Xu | Tranlastional Research Update |
| 4/3/2025 | Professor Ophthalmology | TBD | Shunbin Xu | Distinguished Speaker |
| 4/17/2025 | Professor Biology | TBD | Markus Friedrich | Distinguished Speaker |
| 5/1/2025 | Trainee seminar 2 Yogesh Joshi, PhD candidate and TBD | TBD | Ryan Insolera | Trainee Seminar |
| 5/22/2025 | Professor and James and Margaret Elkins Chair in Ophthalmology Ophthalmology | TBD | Shunbin Xu | Distinguished Speaker |
Fall 2025
| Date | Speaker | Topic | Host | Series Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/4/2025 | Interim Dean, School of Biomedical Sciences; Executive Director & Endowed Chair, NTERI; Professor Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacology & Neuroscience | TBD | Shunbin Xu | Distinguished Speaker |
-
2024-2025 Speakers Series Archive
Date Speaker Topic/ Recording Host Series Type 9/5/2024 Deepak Shukla, Ph.D.
Professor of Ophthalmology, Microbiology and Immunology; Director, Ocular Virology Laboratory
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
University of Illinois ChicagoWhen Herpes Infects the Eye
Ashok Kumar Distinguished Speaker -
2023-2024 Speaker Series archive
Distinguished Speaker Series 2023-24
Date Speaker Topic WSU Host Sept 7, 2023 Anthony St. Leger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Immunology
University of Pittsburgh School of MedicineExploiting the ocular microbiome and neuroimmune axis during blinding ocular surface disease.
Shunbin Xu Oct. 5,
2023Ning Tian, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of UtahImmune proteins in RGC development and protection
View recorded seminarZhuohua Pan Oct. 19, 2023 Justin Kenney
Assistant professor
Biological Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, WSUIdentifying the neural and molecular basis for individual differences in the exploratory behavior of zebrafish Ryan Thummel Nov. 2, 2023 Ryan Thummel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of MedicineRenu Kowluru, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of MedicineBedside to Bench: Examples of Enhanced Training Opportunities in OVAS/KEI
Diabetic macular edema: Anti-VEGF therapy and epigenetically modified mitochondrial DNA
Nov. 16, 2023 Bruce Berkowitz, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of MedicineMitigating threats to sight with translational mitochondrial biomarker imaging
Nov. 30, 2023 Mary Marquart, Ph.D.
Professor
Cell and Molecular Biology
University of Mississippi Medical CenterInnovative Cold Atmospheric Plasma (iCAP) for the Treatment of Microbial Keratitis
Ashok Kumar Dec. 14, 2023 Bart Borghuis, Ph.D.
Associate professor
Anatomical Sciences & NeurobiologyInstitute: University of LouisvilleUnderstanding retinal visual function using live imaging and targeted electrophysiology
Tomomi Ichinose Jan.18, 2024 Danielle Robertson, O.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Ophthalmology
UT Southwestern Medical CenterMitochondria as mediators of host defense in the cornea: implications for contact lens-related bacterial keratitis
View recorded seminarFu-shin Yu Feb. 1,
2024Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha, Ph.D.
Wolfe Professor in Translational Research
FROUM Endowed Chair
Canada Research Chair in Retinal Cell Biology
Member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada
Professor of Ophthalmology, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine,
University of MontrealTargeting Cellular Senescence in the Retina: From dish to Clinic Ahmed Ibrahim Feb. 29,
2024Vladimir Jivkov Kefalov, PhD
Professor
Ophthalmology
University of California IrvineFrom a cone-specific visual cycle to prevention of retinal degeneration
Bruce Berkowitz March 28,
2024Monica Vetter, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Neurobiology
University of Utah School of MedicinePathways for generation and elimination of retinal ganglion cells
Ryan Thummel April 11,
2024Akihiro Ikeda, Ph.D.
Professor
Genetics
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health
University of Wisconsin, MadisonGenetics of retinal aging and lipid metabolism - role of peroxisomes and mitochondria
Nikhlesh Singh April 25
2024Samer Hattar, Ph.D.
Chief and Senior Investigator
Head of the Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms (SLCR)
Intramural Research Program
National Institute of Mental HealthThe impact of light on animal behvaior
Bruce Berkowitz Translational research updates 2023-24
Date Speakers Topics Nov. 2, 2023 Ryan Thummel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of MedicineRenu Kowluru, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of MedicineBedside to Bench: Examples of Enhanced Training Opportunities in OVAS/KEI
Diabetic macular edema: Anti-VEGF therapy and epigenetically modified mitochondrial DNA
Nov. 16, 2023 Bruce Berkowitz, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of MedicineMitigating threats to sight with translational mitochondrial biomarker imaging
Trainee Seminars 2023-24Date Speakers Topics Previous Trainee Seminar(s) Feb 15,
2024Nan Gao
Research scientistThe role of exosomes in mediating corneal wound healing in normal and diabetic mice Feb 15,
2024Nicole Oska
MD candidateRetinal endothelial barrier and bioenergetics Sept. 21,
2023Jeremy Bohl
PhD candidate
Long-Distance Cholinergic Feedback-
From Starburst Amacrine Cells to Retinal Bipolar Cells Enhances Direction Selectivity in the Mammalian RetinaSept. 21,
2023Zeeshan Ahmed
Postdoctoral Research FellowHost NAD+ Metabolism Perturbation in Bacterial Endophthalmitis