2016 ANNUAL REPORT Sandra Blackwood, Editor Photos: Sandra Blackwood Larry Donoso, MD, Phd Design: Robert T
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2016 A n n ua l Report of the IRRF 1720 University Boulevard Birmingham, Alabama 35233 Sandra Blackwood, MPA, Executive Director Telephone: (205) 325-8103 Email: [email protected] www.irrfonline.org contents Eivor and Alston Callahan, MD, Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology The International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) has announced plans to endow a Chair in Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to honor its Founder and Eivor and Alston Callahan, MD, Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology ���������������������������3 longtime leader, Dr. Alston Callahan and his wife, Eivor. Along with son, Dr. Michael Callahan, Oncotarget—Improved cell metabolism prolongs photoreceptor survival upon retina- Loris Rich, and Dr. Charles Kelman, Dr. Callahan pigmented epithelium loss in the sodium iodate induced model of geographic atrophy ��4 founded the Birmingham-based Foundation to further research that will someday provide a cure for Dowling-Werblin Symposium: Half a Century of Retina Research; Neural Circuitry, blinding eye diseases such as macular degeneration. The IRRF is the culmination of his long career in eye Retinal Disorders and Restoration of Vision �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5 healthcare, which began during World War II, when Callahan performed reconstructive eye surgery and SupportSight SM Program—Linking patients, caregivers and families affected by became a pioneer in the field of ophthalmic plastic diseases of the retina with the most up-to-date information and knowledge �������������������������������6 surgery. Callahan served as the first chairman of the UAB Experimental Eye Research—Astrocyte structural reactivity and plasticity in models Department of Ophthalmology and in 1963, founded of retinal detachment ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7 the Eye Foundation Hospital, the first facility in Alabama dedicated to the care and treatment of IRRF Award Recipients—2016 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8 the eye. UAB purchased the Hospital in 1997 and renamed it the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital. Strong Partnerships Produce Increased Research Funding ����������������������������11 Today, the Hospital is known around campus as, The Callahan. The Callahan Chair will also honor his wife, Chart—The International Retinal Research Foundation Grants, 1998–Present ��������������������12 Eivor, who supplied the support and strength that was needed for such accomplishments. The endowed UAB Connections ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14 chair will allow UAB to recruit a faculty member who is an expert in retina to pursue his or her 2016 Lasker Awards ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16 research at UAB. The Lasker/IRRF Initiative for Innovation in Vision Science Amblyopia: Challenges and Opportunities ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 18 The IRRF Board of Directors ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 2 IRRF ANNUAL REPORT IRRF ANNUAL REPORT 3 Access the publication Dr. Claudio Punzo (middle) and his staff. Marina Zieger is pictured far left. Dowling-Werblin Symposium: to delay the degeneration of nutrient Oncotarget deprived PRs once RPE cells die. Here we Half a Century of Retina Research; Improved cell metabolism prolongs photoreceptor survival show that cell-autonomous activation of upon retina-pigmented epithelium loss in the sodium iodate the key regulator of cell metabolism, the Neural Circuitry, Retinal Disorders induced model of geographic atrophy, Marina Zieger and kinase mammalian target of rapamycin Claudio Punzo, Department of Ophthalmology and complex 1 (mTOR1), delays PR death in and Restoration of Vision Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts the sodium iodate induced model of RPE Along with other leading vision because it is anatomically separate set of intracellular recordings of Medical Center, Worcester, MA. This study was con- atrophy. Consistent with this finding loss of research foundations, the Interna- from the rest of the brain and it can light responses from all known ducted with IRRF support. mTORC1 in cones accelerates cone death as tional Retinal Research Foundation be readily stimulated by its natural types of retinal neuron, and for the cones fail to balance demand with supply. (IRRF) provided sponsorship for input – light. Our understanding on Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) first time, defined the receptive the Dowling-Werblin Symposium anatomical and functional neural is characterized by malfunction and loss of Interestingly, promoting rod survival does field properties of these cells. that presented highlights of the circuitry of the retina far exceeds retinal-pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells. not promote cone survival in this model of They discovered the ON-center/ progress in retinal circuit analysis our knowledge of any other parts Because the RPE transfers nutrients from the RPE atrophy as both, rods and cones suffer OFF surround and OFF-center/ since 1969, its implications to neural of the brain, and the tremendous choriocapillaris to photoreceptor (PR), PRs are from a sick and dying RPE. The findings ON-surround bipolar cells, information processing in the brain, success of functional analysis of affected as well. Geographic atrophy (GA) is suggest that activation of metabolic genes which initiate the ON and OFF its application to retinal dysfunc- retinal circuitry during the past an advanced form of AMD characterized by downstream of mTORC1 can serve as a channels and the center-surround tion and diseases, and how it helps 4-5 decades was inaugurated by severe vision impairment due to RPE loss over strategy to prolong PR survival when RPE antagonistic receptive fields that are to develop prosthesis and other the landmark papers in 1969: large areas. Currently, there is no treatment cells malfunction or die. found to be the fundamental units methods to restore vision. Organization of Retina of the for spatial information processing To read this paper in its entirety, please follow the link:: www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget/index. One of the optimal goals of brain Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus php?journal=oncotarget&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=7330&path%5B%5D=20985 research is to understand how I: Synaptic Structure John E. in retinal ganglion cells, LGN neuronal networks respond to Dowling and Frank S. Werblin, J. and cortical neurons. They also signals from the environment, Neurophysiology, 32, 315-338, 1969; found that the output synapses of and how individual neurons and Organization of Retina of the interneurons in the outer and inner about the cover photo synapses process information Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus, retina (horizontal cells and amacrine elicited by natural stimuli of the II: Intracellular Recording, Frank cells) mediate surround responses of Retinal flat mount of mouse 4 weeks post sodium iodate injection showing in red outside world. The retina is part of S. Werblin and John E. Dowling, J. bipolar organizational plan for all surviving cones after loss of retinal-pigmented epithelium. The radial extent of retinal- the brain as it embryonically derives Neurophysiology, 32, 315-338, 1969. vertebrate retinas and has served as pigmented epithelium damage can be inferred from the area the dark pigmented from the neural tube. It is also the In these papers, Werblin and the guidebook for retinal network epithelium cells cover. Cones are identified by cone arrestin positive signal in red. (See most accessible part of the brain Dowling made the first complete analysis until now. related paper, “Oncotaget” above.) IRRF ANNUAL REPORT 5 Claudio Punzo, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) SupportSight SM Drs. Geoffrey Lewis and Steven Fisher and Gabriel Luna, BA, Research Specialist with the Program Neuroscience Research Institute. Experimental ABSTRACT: Although retinal neurodegenerative conditions such as age-related Linking patients, Eye Research macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and retinal detachment have different etiologies and patho- Astrocyte structural logical characteristics, they also have many responses in common at the caregivers and reactivity and plasticity in cellular level, including neural and glial remodeling. Structural changes in Müller cells, the large radial glia of the retina in retinal disease and models of retinal detachment, injury have been well described, that of the retinal astrocytes remains families affected Gabriel Luna, Patrick W. less so. Using modern imaging technology to describe the structural Keeley, Benjamin E. Reese, remodeling of retinal astrocytes after retinal detachment is the focus of Kenneth A Linberg, this paper. We present both a review of critical literature as well as novel by diseases of the Geoffrey P. Lewis, Steven work focusing on the responses of astrocytes following rhegmatogenous Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile, and serous retinal detachment. The mouse presents a convenient Alabama.