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Dr. Raghavi Sudharsan, PhD, is a Research Assistant Professor within Dr. William Beltran’s group at the Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies. The group is world-renowned for characterizing retinal diseases in naturally-occurring large animal models of inherited retinopathies and developing gene therapies for several of these diseases.  Dr. Sudharsan’s research focuses on understanding disease mechanisms, identifying universal therapeutic modules targeting multiple forms of retinopathies and analyzing differences in inflammatory processes in disease and those that develop post gene-therapy intervention. 

Description:

Inherited retinal degenerations (IRD) are caused due to mutations in over 250 different genes that are expressed in the photoreceptors. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common form of IRD, with the disease course marked by gradual loss of vision extending over several years and eventual blindness in the patients. There is currently no cure for this group of diseases. Although recent years have seen success in development of gene therapies targeting some of these genes including a few from our group, it is challenging and cost-prohibitive to cure each mutant gene using this approach. Fortunately, despite varied etiology, many different forms of RP have been shown to have common degenerative pathways that provides an opportunity to develop gene-agnostic, pan-RP therapies for prolonging photoreceptor survival in multiple forms of IRD.  One of our research focus is to use transcriptomic analysis to identify common biomolecules and biological pathways that are activated in multiple forms of IRDs and explore their potential as therapeutic targets. Using this approach, we have identified the involvement of the innate immune system in driving retinal degeneration in these diseases. We have also identified several interesting transcripts and novel mRNA isoforms that are overexpressed in this group of diseases and are intimately involved in disease progression and/or photoreceptor survival. Currently, we are exploring the mechanism of action for some of these biomolecules and their viability as therapeutic targets in multiple forms of IRD.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior research experience not required but a basic understanding of biology and some familiarity with working in a laboratory will be useful.

Details:

Preferred Student Year

First-year, Second-Year, Junior, Senior

Project Academic Year

2023–2024

Volunteer

Yes

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.