Research seminars
Distinguished Speaker Seminar 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.
For more information or comments and suggestions, please email:
Next seminar
Samer Hattar, Ph.D.
Chief and Senior Investigator
Head of the Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms (SLCR)
Intramural Research Program
National Institute of Mental Health
April 25, 2024
Noon. - 1 p.m.
On-site location
OVAS departmental library
Scott Hall, room #8366
Virtual attendees
Distinguished Speakers Seminar Series
| Date | Speaker | Topic | WSU Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 25, 2024 | Samer Hattar, Ph.D. Chief and Senior Investigator Head of the Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms (SLCR) Intramural Research Program National Institute of Mental Health | TBD | Bruce Berkowitz |
Translational research updates
| Date | Speakers | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Nov. 2, 2023 | Ryan Thummel, Ph.D. Renu Kowluru, Ph.D.
| Bedside 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 Medicine | Mitigating threats to sight with translational mitochondrial biomarker imaging |
Trainee Seminars
| Date | Speakers | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Previous Trainee Seminar(s) | ||
| Feb 15, | Nan Gao Research scientist | The role of exosomes in mediating corneal wound healing in normal and diabetic mice |
| Feb 15, | Nicole Oska MD candidate | Retinal endothelial barrier and bioenergetics |
| Sept. 21, | Jeremy Bohl | Long-Distance Cholinergic Feedback-
|
| Sept. 21, | Zeeshan Ahmed Postdoctoral Research Fellow | Host NAD+ Metabolism Perturbation in Bacterial Endophthalmitis |
Seminar archive
| Date | Speaker | Topic | WSU Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 7, 2023 | Anthony St. Leger, Ph.D. | Exploiting the ocular microbiome and neuroimmune axis during blinding ocular surface disease. | Shunbin Xu |
| Oct. 5, 2023 | Ning Tian, Ph.D. Professor Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Utah | Immune proteins in RGC development and protection View recorded seminar | Zhuohua Pan |
| Oct. 19, 2023 | Justin Kenney Assistant professor Biological Sciences College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, WSU | Identifying the neural and molecular basis for individual differences in the exploratory behavior of zebrafish | Ryan Thummel |
| Nov. 2, 2023 | Ryan Thummel, Ph.D. Renu Kowluru, Ph.D. | Bedside 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 Medicine | Mitigating threats to sight with translational mitochondrial biomarker imaging | |
| Nov. 30, 2023 | Mary Marquart, Ph.D. Professor Cell and Molecular Biology University of Mississippi Medical Center | Innovative 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 Louisville | Understanding 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 Center | Mitochondria as mediators of host defense in the cornea: implications for contact lens-related bacterial keratitis View recorded seminar | Fu-shin Yu |
| Feb. 1, 2024 | Przemyslaw (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 Montreal | Targeting Cellular Senescence in the Retina: From dish to Clinic | Ahmed Ibrahim |
| Feb. 29, | Vladimir Jivkov Kefalov, PhD Professor Ophthalmology University of California Irvine | From a cone-specific visual cycle to prevention of retinal degeneration | Bruce Berkowitz |
| March 28, 2024 | Monica Vetter, PhD Professor and Chair Department of Neurobiology University of Utah School of Medicine | Pathways for generation and elimination of retinal ganglion cells | Ryan Thummel |
| April 11, 2024 | Akihiro Ikeda, Ph.D. Professor Genetics College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin, Madison | View recorded seminar | Nikhlesh Singh |
| April 25 2024 | Samer Hattar, Ph.D. Chief and Senior Investigator Head of the Section on Light and Circadian Rhythms (SLCR) Intramural Research Program National Institute of Mental Health | View recorded seminar | Bruce Berkowitz |