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:

Shunbin Xu, MD, PhD, or Selina Hall 
 

Next seminar

Understanding retinal visual function using live imaging and targeted electrophysiology

Dr. Mary Marquart
Bart Borghuis, Ph.D.

Bart Borghuis, Ph.D.
Associate professor
Anatomical Sciences & NeurobiologyInstitute: University of Louisville

December 14, 2023
3pm EST 

On-site location

OVAS departmental library
Scott Hall, room #8366

Virtual attendees

Join via Zoom

Distinguished Speakers Seminar Series

Date Speaker Topic WSU Host
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
TBD 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

TBD Ahmed Ibrahim
March 28, 2024 Monica Vetter, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Neurobiology
University of Utah
 
TBD 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

TBD Nikhlesh Singh
April 25, 2024 Samer Hatter, 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.
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of Medicine

Renu Kowluru, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of Medicine

 

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
Sept. 21, 2023

Jeremy Bohl
PhD candidate

Zeeshan Ahmed
Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Long-Distance Cholinergic Feedback-
From Starburst Amacrine Cells to Retinal Bipolar Cells Enhances Direction Selectivity in the Mammalian Retina

Host NAD+ Metabolism Perturbation in Bacterial Endophthalmitis

 

Seminar archive 

Date Speaker Topic WSU Host
Sept 7, 2023

Anthony St. Leger, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Immunology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Exploiting the ocular microbiome and neuroimmune axis during blinding ocular surface disease.

View recorded seminar

Shunbin Xu
Oct. 5, 2023 Ning Tian, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Utah
Immune proteins in RGC development and protection 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.
Associate Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of Medicine

Renu Kowluru, Ph.D.
Professor
Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
WSU School of Medicine

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

View recorded seminar

 
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

View recorded seminar

Ashok Kumar