The coordinated cell movements and the sequential induction of eye specific genes during early ocular development have been intensively studied. However, we do not yet fully understand how the structural and functional interactions between the cellular signals guide pattern formation at different stages of eye development. With an interest in elucidating the mechanisms that are involved in eye pattern formation, I am studying the role of the SRY-Box transcription factor, Sox11, during zebrafish visual system development.

                      I have shown that two zebrafish sox11 paralogs, sox11a, and sox11b, have overlapping yet distinct expression patterns in the developing eye.Furthermore, both transcripts are present in mitotic retinal progenitor cells as well as post-mitotic precursor cells. Knockdown of both sox11a and sox11b results in micropthalmia, delayed lens development, coloboma, and specific reduction of photoreceptor cells. My current research goals are to further characterize the mechanism of action of Sox11 during optic fissure closure and photoreceptor development.

University of Kentucky, Molecular and Cellular Biology, August 2009-Current