Mentor Areas
Dr. Kaiser did his MD/PhD at the University of Iowa, where he developed a mouse model of migraine in which CGRP (a neuropeptide involved in migraine) leads to light avoidance. He is a neurologist and headache specialist, trained at the University of Pennsylvania and Brigham Women's Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital. He is currently examining the photoreceptor basis of light sensitivity in mice. Also, he conducts clinical research examining migraine and photophobia, with an interest in understanding how trigeminal and light signals interact and cause photophobia. He collaborates on a project examining the molecular and cellular changes in trigeminal ganglia secondary to migraine.
Description:
Experiencing discomfort from very bright light is a shared experience. However, for people with photophobia, normal (or even low) levels of light can be unpleasant if not painful. This is particularily common in a number of conditions including migraine, dry eye, and traumatic brain injury. There are no specific pharmacologic treatments for photophobia, which in part stems from a poor understanding of neural mechanisms facilitating photophobia.
There is a building body of evidence that suggests that intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which contain a photopigment, melanopsin, play an integral role in mediating photophobia. However, it is not clear how these signals are modulated such that they are perceived as an aversive stimulus. I have developed a behavior mouse model of photophobia to examine the photoreceptor basis of light sensitivity.
I use a combination of rodent behavior studies and immunohistochemistry to examine the responses to various light stimuli. Future studies will use single-cell sequencing techniques to study the molecular and cellular processes facilitating photophobia.
Preferred Qualifications
No specific qualifications. Students studying the biomedical sciences may be best suited for research opportunities in Dr. Kaiser's lab.
Details:
Preferred Student Year
First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior
Academic Term
Fall, Spring, Summer
I prefer to have students start during the above term(s).Volunteer
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to volunteers.Paid
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to paying students they engage in their research, regardless of their work-study eligibility.Work Study
Yes
Yes indicates that faculty are open to hiring work-study-eligible students.