View Annual Report - Jules Stein Eye Institute

michael B. Gorin, mD, PhD
Harold and Pauline Price Professor of Ophthalmology
Chief of the Division of Retinal Disorders and
Ophthalmic Genetics
Member of the Jules Stein Eye Institute
ReseaRch summaRy
Hereditable Eye Disorders
and Molecular Genetics
of Age-Related Maculopathy
Dr. Gorin’s primary research focus is molecular genetics
of hereditable eye disorders, specifically age-related
maculopathy (ARM). His research group was the first to
identify specific regions of the genome that contributed
to ARM development in families, leading to discovery of
gene variations that contribute to the risk of develop-
ing ARM.
Dr. Gorin investigates the molecular genetics of complex
disorders such as cystoid macular edema, agerelated
cataracts, and glaucoma, as well as monogenic
disorders such as hereditary retinal degenerations,
glaucoma, cataracts, and ocular syndromes. He is
pursuing studies to identify genetic variations that
contribute to the severity, complications, and therapeutic
responses of these conditions. Dr. Gorin and his clinical
team, including Ms. Ariadna Martinez, a certified genetic
counselor who specializes in hereditary eye disorders,
works with the clinical and research human genetics
group at UCLA to explore use of new technologies,
including next-generation sequencing for clinical utility
in ophthalmic genetics.
Research also focuses on the neurobiology of ocular
pain and photophobia (sensitivity to light) to understand
the basic biology and neural pathways that contribute to
photophobia so that new therapeutic strategies can be
developed. Based upon preliminary work, opportunities
have emerged to investigate the pathogenesis of light
sensitivity for individuals who suffer from migraines and/
or mild traumatic brain injury.
Clinical research efforts are directed towards developing
methods to monitor and quantify retinal function in
progressive retinal disorders (such as diabetic retinopathy,
Stargardt disease, and retinitis pigmentosa) and in
patients with potential ocular toxicities from systemic
medications. Applied research interests include bioinformatics
in clinical ophthalmic practice and public health
issues pertaining to ocular disease.
42 Faculty | Gorin
Public Service
Medical Director, Jules Stein Eye Institute’s Electronic
Medical Record System
Member, Medical Education Committee,
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Editorial Board Member, Current Eye Research and
Experimental Eye Research
Advisory Board Member,
American Health Assistance Foundation
Member, Association of University Professors of
Ophthalmology, Consortium of Medical Education Directors
Member, Special National Institutes of Health Study Sections
for the National Eye Institute, National Institute on Aging
(Claude Pepper Grants), National Human Genome Research,
Center for Inherited Disease Research
Scientific Advisory Committee Member, the American
Health Assistance Foundation and the Knights Templar
Eye Research Foundation
Founding Member of the von Hippel-Lindau Center
of Excellence at UCLA Medical Center
Listed by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. as one of America’s
top doctors since 2006
Reviewer for many scientific journals
Research Grants
National Eye Institute: Genetics of Age-Related Maculopathy
(received an ARRA Administrative Supplement),
4/1/07–3/31/13
National Eye Institute: Jules Stein Eye Institute Core Grant
for Vision Research, Module Director, 7/1/10–6/30/13
Neuro Kinetics, Inc.: Rapid, Noninvasive, Regional Functional
Imaging of Diabetic Retina, 9/1/10–11/30/11
Foundation Fighting Blindness: Clinical and Genetic
Characterization of Stargardt and Stargardt-like
Macular Dystrophies: The Potential Role of AMD
Risk Factors on the Severity and Progression of
these Macular Dystrophies, Principal Investigator,
6/1/11–6/30/13