Jeremy Sivak, PhD

My research is concerned with endogenous mechanisms of tissue maintenance and repair, and the identification of strategies to promote these processes. In particular, my lab has used the eye as a model for studying these mechanisms, as their breakdown with injury and age is implicated in the pathogenesis of leading diseases causing vision loss. To study these issues, my lab uses unique multidisciplinary approaches that runs from basic cell and molecular biology to drug discovery and development. My laboratory’s recent focus has been the mechanisms regulating mechanical and metabolic injury to the inner retina, particularly the role of glial cells and their interactions with retinal ganglion cell neurons. Parainflammatory activation of retinal and optic nerve head astrocytes has been implicated as an early event in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. However, the regulation of molecular cues underlying their complex interactions with neurons remains unclear. My lab developed unique in vitro and in vivo models to dissect these cues and manipulate them experimentally, leading to current projects studying the actions of novel neuroprotective lipid mediators, and mechanisms of protein translational regulation. In addition, we have been developing strategies for assessing and optimizing intraocular drug delivery and formulations for retinal therapeutics.