Akiko Maeda, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Instructor
Case Western Reserve University
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
2085 Adelbert Road, Institute of Pathology, Rm 115
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Phone: (216) 368-0670 Fax: (216) 368-3171
Email: akiko.maeda@case.edu
Research Focus: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Research Summary
I have engaged in a medical science research for 10 years to cure retinal degenerative diseases, because I have been very frustrated with a lack of treatment options for my patients with these retinal diseases. Neurodegenerative retinal diseases significantly affect quality of life for over 50 million people worldwide, including 4 million in the United States, and there is a drastic lack of therapies available to patients.

My research activity bridges between clinical and basic science application and consists of three main parts: (1) Studying the role of the visual retinoid cycle, which is a vitamin A recycling system in the eye. (2) Studying the pathogenic defects associated with disease-causing-mutations in retinal genes using transgenic mouse technology. (3) Development of new therapies for currently incurable retinal diseases. Pharmacologic applications, gene transfer therapy and cell-based therapy are tested on our animal models of ocular diseases. These studies involve biochemical, molecular biology, genetic manipulations and gene therapy approaches.

Lab Openings: A postdoctoral position is available to study retinal diseases using mouse models. We are seeking an energetic, highly motivated PhD, MD, or MD/PhD with solid publication record and experience in ophthalmic examinations, biochemistry, immunology, genetics, or neuroscience.

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Laboratory
Publications