UW Eye Research Institute
Akihiro Ikeda, DVM, PhD
Retina Research Foundation Rebecca Meyer Brown Professor
Associate Professor
Medical Genetics
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
5322 Genetics/Biotech
425-G Henry Mall
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 262-5477
- Education:
- PhD 1997, University of Tokyo (Physiology)
- Postdoctoral Fellowship 1997-2003, The Jackson Laboratory
- Research Interests:
- Dr. Ikeda is using mouse genetics to study the synaptic connections in the eye. He is currently studying a mouse model of retinoschisis, a common inherited macular degeneration that is known to be caused by mutations in the RS1 gene. A mouse model carrying a genetic mutation, Rs1h, shows retinal splitting and synaptic abnormalities similar to those in the human, as well as severe layer structural defects. Rs1h plays a role in cell adhesion and is located on the cell surface, and is therefore a likely candidate in causing the retinal defect.
- The overall strategy of positional cloning is to map the location of a human disease gene by linkage analysis and to then use the mapped location on the chromosome to clone (or identify) the gene. Using this technique, Dr. Ikeda has identified a single major gene modifier locus that produces a change in the schisis phenotype and the layer structural abnormality in Rs1h mutant mice. Dr. Ikeda's studies now are moving toward learning more about the molecular pathway through which the RS1 gene functions. His lab is working on characterizing the role of Rs1h in retinal cell morphology and synaptic function, as well as generating a high-resolution map of the gene modifier locus.
- Publications:
- PubMed Listing of Publications