Vision Research at Yale

Yale scientists have always been at the forefront of vision research. Throughout the decades, the efforts of Yale researchers have led to many crucial discoveries, including:

  • Observations of Retinal Pigment Epithelium transdifferentiation (1950s)
  • Identification of cyclic GMP as an important photoreceptor messenger (1970s)
  • Preclinical development of Timolol (1970s)
  • Identification of the genes for Macular Degeneration (2005 and 2006)

It remains our mission to carry out groundbreaking research on the development, structure, and function of the visual system and uphold our position as a center of excellence. We take very seriously our obligation to translate these research findings into new treatments that can benefit those suffering from blinding eye diseases.

In addition, we provide a rigorous training environment for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and serve as a center for a wide range of international collaborations.

Bo Chen

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Neurobiology

Research Interests:Retinal degenerative diseases; Retinal neurobiology; Signal transduction pathways; Gene network regulation

    Miguel Coca-Prados

    Professor Emeritus of and Professor (Adjunct) of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

    Research Interests:Chloride Channels of the ClC Family; Construction of Subtractive Libraries; Gene Expression and Regulation of Neuropeptides and Hormones; Gene Expression and Regulation of TIGR; Regulatory Peptides With Hypertensive And/or Hypotensive Act; Steroid Metabolism and Regulation of Gene Expression of 17bH

      Jonathan Demb

      Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology

      Research Interests:Neuroscience; Functional circuitry of the retina; Cellular basis of visual adaptation; Neural plasticity; Mechanisms of retinal disease

        In-Jung Kim

        Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and of Neurobiology

        Research Interests:Neuroscience; Development; Visual System; Neural Circuits; Transgenic approaches; Direction Selectivity

        • Office:(203) 737-6926
        • Lab:(203) 737-6834

        James Tsai

        Robert R. Young Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
        Chair, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
        Chief, Ophthalmology, Yale-New Haven Hospital

        Research Interests:the search for molecules with the potential to protect the optic nerve from damage directly, without lowering intraocular pressure (e.g. neuroprotection) the evaluation of surgical outcomes in glaucoma patients and the development of advanced techniques of vision testing

        Clinical Interests:Diagnosis and management of challenging glaucoma cases including glaucoma implant surgery, trabeculectomy with antimetabolite surgery, and combined glaucoma and cataract surgery; sutureless cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma; eye disorders

        • Appt:(203) 785-2020

        Z. Jimmy Zhou

        Marvin L. Sears Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of Neurobiology
        Vice Chairman and Director of Research, Ophthalmology and Visual Science

        Research Interests:Physiology and development of the mammalian retina under normal and pathological conditions; Organization and function of retinal synapses and circuits

        • Office:(203) 785-2076

        John Huang

        Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
        Residency Program Director
        Director, Clinical Trials and Translational Research
        Director, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis

        Research Interests:Vitreo-retinal diseases and uveitis; Pharmacogenomic treatment of macular degeneration patients; Quality of life in uveitis patients; External factors in treatment of diabetic retinopathy

        Clinical Interests:Non-infectious and infectious uveitis; retinal disorders; macular degeneration; diabetic retinopathy; macular hole; macular pucker; retinal detachment; cystoid macular edema; hereditary retinal degeneration; ocular lymphoma; ocular leukemia

        • Appt:(203) 785-2020

        Kathleen Stoessel

        Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
        Director, Retina Fellowship Program

        Research Interests:retinopathy of prematurity

        Clinical Interests:Evaluation and laser treatment of ROP and other adult and pediatric proliferative retinopathies, sickle cell retinopathy; retinal evaluation in pediatric head trauma; diabetic retinopathy; macular degeneration; retinal dystrophies

        • Appt:(203) 785-2020

        Michael Crair

        William Ziegler III Professor of Neurobiology and Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
        Director, Graduate Studies

        Research Interests:Neural circuit development; synapse formation; visual system development; cortex development

        • Office:(203) 785-5768
        • Lab:(203) 785-6362

        Josephine Hoh

        Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Environmental Health) and of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

        Research Interests:Interactions among genes; Environmental exposures

        • Office:(203) 785-2738
        • Lab:(203) 737-6007

        Lawrence Rizzolo

        Associate Professor of Surgery (Gross Anatomy) and of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
        Director of Medical Studies

        Research Interests:Retinal disease; Tight junctions; Outer blood-retinal barrier; Epithelia; Human embryonic stem cells; Bio/tissue engineering; Medical education

        Clinical Interests:Medical education

        • Office:(203) 785-6277
        • Lab:(203) 785-6987

        Caroline Zeiss

        Professor of Comparative Medicine and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science
        Director, Mouse Research Pathology Service
        Unit Chief, Pathology

        Research Interests:Molecular and cellular pathogenesis of retinal degeneration; neurobiology of movement disorders; phenotypes of genetically engineered mice; evolutionary biology of the eye; Veterinary Pathology; Mouse Phenotyping; Ocular pathology with emphasis on photoreceptor disorders; Neuroanatomy of age-related gait disorders; Signal transduction events during neuronal death; Comparative pathology with emphasis on murine neuroanatomy; Phenotying genetically altered rodents

        • Office:(203) 737-4303

        David Zenisek

        Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

        Research Interests:Physiology and cell biology of the presynaptic terminal; Retinal Bipolar Neuron; Synaptic Terminal; Synaptic Ribbons; Vesicle Transport; Exocytosis; Endocytosis

        • Office:(203) 785-6474