View Annual Report - Jules Stein Eye Institute

30 Faculty | Bok
Dean Bok, PhD
Dolly Green Professor of Ophthalmology
Distinguished Professor of Neurobiology
Member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
Member of the Brain Research Institute
ReseaRch summaRy
Cell and Molecular Biology
of the Retina
Dr. Bok’s research interests involve the cell and molecular
biology of the normal and diseased retina. In one
research area, he is identifying and characterizing
genes specific to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and
exploring interactions that take place between RPE and
retinal photoreceptors. The RPE performs a multitude
of functions in the retina, including the transport of
nutrients, ions, and fluid; the uptake and processing of
vitamin A; and the daily removal of outer segment disc
membranes that have been discarded by the photoreceptors.
A second area of research involves the study
of animal models of human retinitis pigmentosa and
macular degeneration.
Dr. Bok is using the techniques of cell and molecular
biology to determine the proteins responsible for
photoreceptor degeneration. One of the proteins under
study in mice and humans is rds/peripherin. Because of
a gene mutation, this protein is defective in a strain of
mice called rds. As a result, the photoreceptors fail to
form their light-sensitive organelles and eventually die.
Dr. Bok and his collaborators have prevented blindness
in these mice by injecting an artificial gene for rds/
peripherin that performs normally. They are currently
placing human rds/peripherin mutations into mice in
order to study the mechanisms that cause photoreceptor
death. Attempts are being made to slow the
process of photoreceptor degeneration by delivery of
neurotrophic factors into the retina by nonpathogenic
viruses. Finally, with new information regarding the
genetics of age-related macular degeneration, Dr. Bok
and collaborators are studying mechanisms whereby
the alternative complement pathway of the immune
system contributes to this disease.
Public Service
Scientific Advisory Board Member, E. Matilda Ziegler
Foundation for the Blind, the Karl Kirchgessner Foundation,
the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the Macula Vision
Research Foundation
External Advisory Board Member, Center of Biomedical
Research Excellence, University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center; and the Macular Telangiectasia
Project, Lowy Medical Research Institute, LTD
Editorial Board Member, International Review of Cytology
Reviewer for many scientific journals
Research Grants
Macula Vision Research Foundation: Identification and
Cellular Localization of Gene Products that Affect
Photoreceptor Survival in Inherited Retinal Degeneration,
4/1/08–3/31/12
National Eye Institute: Development of Complement
Modulating Therapeutics for AMD (Principal Investigator:
Gregory S. Hageman, PhD, with other investigators),
8/1/06–7/31/11
National Eye Institute: RDS Mutations; Gene Therapy for
ADRP, Macular Degeneration, and Pattern Dystrophy
(Principal Investigator: Alfred S. Lewin, PhD, with other
investigators), 9/1/07–8/31/11
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine: Development
of a Stem Cell-Based Transplantation Strategy for Treating
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Principal Investigator:
Gabriel Travis, MD, with other investigators),
11/1/09–10/31/12