Dr. Visvanathan Ramamurthy's lab focuses on developing therapies for vision loss caused by defects in photoreceptor outer segments. These segments are critical for our ability to see, and when they don't develop correctly, it can lead to blindness. The lab studies a specific protein called Prominin-1, which has been linked to several eye diseases, and seeks to find ways to treat conditions associated with mutations in this protein.

Dr. David Matthew Smith's lab at West Virginia University focuses on understanding the role of protein degradation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease. The lab investigates how the failure of the proteasome system leads to the accumulation of toxic proteins in neurons. By studying unique pathways that bypass traditional protein degradation mechanisms, the lab aims to identify potential therapeutic strategies to enhance neuronal health and combat neurodegenerative disorders.