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X-WR-CALNAME:Southwestern Vision Science Summit (SVSS)
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Central Time (US & Canada)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20261008T130706Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_50851491555352
DTSTART:20260328T123000Z
DTEND:20260328T213000Z
DESCRIPTION:Registration and Abstract Submission\n\nThe UTSW Department of 
 Ophthalmology presents the inaugural Southwestern Vision Science Summit\, 
 a regional forum for scientists in vision-related fields to present their 
 findings and facilitate the development of professional contacts.\n\nKeyno
 te Speaker and Session Chairs\n \n\nJeffrey M. Gross\, Ph.D. - Keynote Spe
 aker\nDr. Gross is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular 
 Biosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. The Gross Lab focuses on
  vertebrate eye development\, disease modeling and regeneration utilizing 
 the zebrafish as a model system. Combining forward genetic screens with re
 verse genetic and embryological manipulations we hope to understand the mo
 lecular\, cellular and developmental events that regulate eye formation an
 d visual function\, ocular diseases and regenerative responses. Current ar
 eas of interest in the lab include studies focusing on the development of 
 the retina\, lens and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE)\, elucidation of 
 the cellular mechanisms that regulate ocular morphogenesis\, the molecular
  regulation of retina and RPE regeneration and neuroprotection. Our resear
 ch combines molecular\, cellular\, genomic\, biochemical\, transgenic and 
 in vivo imaging techniques to address these questions. It is our hope that
  these studies will ultimately lead to a better understanding of visual sy
 stem disorders and the development of new therapeutic interventions.\n\nMe
 lanie Samuel\, Ph.D. - Session Chair\nDr. Samuel is an Associate Professor
  of Neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine and an Investigator at the 
 Duncan Neurological Research Institute in Houston\, Texas. She completed h
 er PhD at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis\, Missouri
  and postdoctoral training at Harvard in Cambridge\, Massachusetts. Recent
  breakthroughs in understanding visual and brain disorders have highlighte
 d surprising roles for non-neuronal cells -- such as glial cells and blood
  vessels -- in neuron health and resilience.  The Samuel lab focuses on in
 vestigating how interactions between neurons and these other brain cell ty
 pes affect development and disease outcomes. The Samuel lab integrates ana
 lyses of human and mouse brain models for advancing disease treatments by 
 combining genetic\, molecular\, and cellular approaches using human plurip
 otent cell-derived systems\, in vivo mouse models of disease\, and advance
 d imaging approaches. By uncovering shared mechanisms across neurodegenera
 tive conditions like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy\, the Samuel lab aim
 s to identify conserved therapeutic targets for broad-impact interventions
 . Additionally\, the lab works to uncover pathways that enhance neuronal r
 esilience in critical neural circuits\, with the goal of improving the sur
 vival of both vulnerable endogenous neurons and transplanted neurons in pr
 eclinical therapeutic approaches.\n\nMuna Naash\, Ph.D. - Session Chair\nD
 r. Muna Naash is the John S. Dunn Endowed Professor in the Department of B
 iomedical Engineering at the University of Houston in Houston\, Texas. She
  earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Baylor College of Medicine\, follow
 ed by postdoctoral training in Ophthalmology at the Cullen Eye Institute\,
  also at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Naash is widely recognized as an 
 authority on genetic mutations underlying hereditary retinal diseases. Her
  multidisciplinary research program integrates molecular bioengineering\, 
 ocular and auditory biology\, and chemistry to uncover the mechanisms of v
 ision and hearing loss in retinal degenerations and Usher Syndrome Type 2A
  (USH2A). A central focus of her work is the development of non-viral gene
  therapy platforms designed to restore vision and hearing\, particularly f
 or disorders caused by large genes that exceed the packaging limits of vir
 al delivery systems. Over the past several decades\, Dr. Naash has achieve
 d both national and international recognition for her pioneering contribut
 ions and has maintained an impressive\, federally funded research portfoli
 o. Her current work is supported by multiple NIH/NEI grants (extending thr
 ough 2030)\, the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB)\, and the Cynthia and
  George Mitchell Foundation.\n\nYuqing Huo\, M.D.\, Ph.D. - Session Chair\
 nDr. Huo is a Professor and Danny B. Jones Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology 
 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston\, Texas. He is also a Professor i
 n the Department of Medicine - Section of Cardiovascular Research\, and Pr
 ofessor of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine. D
 r. Huo earned his PhD from Beijing Medical University (Peking University) 
 and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Virginia in C
 harlottesville\, Virginia. Research interests of Dr. Huo's group focus on 
 understanding the mechanisms underlying the interaction between vascular c
 ells and leukocytes/immune cells that contribute to the development of car
 diovascular and metabolic diseases. Specifically\, Dr. Huo's group investi
 gates the metabolic pathways that control leukocyte recruitment and activa
 tion\, endothelial inflammation\, the proliferation and migration of vascu
 lar smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts\, as well as the mesenchymal trans
 ition of these cells in disease progression. By studying the metabolic and
  inflammatory processes underlying these diseases\, Dr. Huo's group aims t
 o contribute to a deeper understanding of these conditions and pave the wa
 y for developing novel therapeutic interventions for these vascular-relate
 d diseases.\n\nSchedule\n\nFriday\, March 27\n5:30 pm -- Dinner and Networ
 king (Venue to be announced)\n\nSaturday\, March 28\n7:30 am -- Breakfast\
 n\n8:00 am to 4:30 pm -- Scientific Sessions and Poster Presentations\n\nS
 ession I: Session Chair\, Melanie Samuel\, Ph.D.Session II: Session Chair\
 , Muna Naash\, Ph.D.Session III: Session Chair\, Yuqing Huo\, M.D.\, Ph.D.
 4:30 pm -- Awards and Closing
GEO:32.820521;-96.842748
LOCATION:Medical Education & Conference Center and Commons Food Court (NG)\
 , 3.112
SUMMARY:Southwestern Vision Science Summit (SVSS)
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.utsouthwestern.edu/event/southwestern-vision-s
 cience-summit
CATEGORIES:Research
CATEGORIES:Academics & Co-Curricular
CATEGORIES:Seminar
CATEGORIES:Symposium
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