Faculty

Bio

The major goals of the Junge laboratory are to understand neurovascular signaling in the eye and visual system using the mouse as a model system. Areas of focus are regulation of the blood-retina barrier and retinal angiogenesis by neural signals, how the pathways under study function at the molecular level, and the application of novel transgenic mouse models to study ocular disease. We use integrated approaches including mouse genetics, cell-based assays, molecular manipulations (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9), RNA-Seq, and proteomics to understand processes at cellular, developmental, and disease levels.

Research Summary

Neurovascular interactions Blood-retina barrier Retinal angiogenesis Retinopathies, Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy Norrin and Wnt signaling Classical complement system

Bio

Dr. Stephen C. Kaufman, MD, PhD is a Professor and Vice – Chairman of Ophthalmology, the Director of Cornea and Refractive Surgery and the Director of the Cornea Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota. He was the Medical Director of the Refractive Surgery Program at the Henry Ford Health System, a member of the Board of Directors of the Cornea Society and Eye Bank Association of America Dr. Kaufman is the Chairman of the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Cornea Knowledge Base Committee, is the Co-Chairman of the Midwest Cornea Association, on the Board of the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology and is an associate Medical Director of the Lions Gift of Sight.

Research Summary

He conducts research in many areas of Ophthalmology and he has lectured at numerous national and international Ophthalmology meetings over his more than 2 decade career in Ophthalmology; such as: The American Academy of Ophthalmology, The Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, The European Cornea Society and The Current Concepts in Ophthalmology meetings. Dr. Kaufman is the editor of 2 cornea textbooks, is on the editorial board of 2 ophthalmic journals, has published 11 chapters on cornea and refractive surgery and has more than 400 publications and presentations to his name. He is a HEED Ophthalmology Fellow, received the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, The American Medical Association Achievement Award, An NIH Physician Scientist Award, National Academy of Science Award, America’s Top Ophthalmologists Award, Super Doctors Award for New York City, New York State Research Award and others.

Clinical Summary

Corneal surgery and disease Anterior segment surgery and disease LASIK and refractive surgery Treatment of medical and surgical anterior segment complications Ophthalmic research

Bio

Dr. Koozekanani treats patients with vitreoretinal issues, including macular degeneration and retinopathy of prematurity, as well as patients with diabetic eye disease and tumors of the eye.

Research Summary

Imaging technology for vitreoretinal care Macular degeneration

Clinical Summary

Retinal diseases including diabetes, macular degeneration, ocular tumors, surgical eye conditions, and hereditary degenerations Application and development of imaging technologies

Bio

Michael S. Lee, MD completed his bachelor’s degree at Johns Hopkins University followed by his medical degree and ophthalmology residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He then completed a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship at The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School where he received a Distinguished Teaching and Service Award. He has received the Best Teaching Faculty Award from the residents in the Ophthalmology Department at the University of Minnesota four times. He has served on the board of directors of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society and the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmolgy and the editorial boards of Eye, Survey of Ophthalmology, Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Frontiers in Neuro-Ophthalmology and the Asian Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications, 14 book chapters, and recently published his first book, A Case-based Guide to Eye Pain: Perspectives from Ophthalmology and Neurology. Dr. Lee is a Professor with tenure in the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota and serves as the Residency Program Director in Ophthalmology where he holds the Mackall-Scheie Research Chair. He also serves as director of the neuro-ophthalmology service and co-director of the Center for Thyroid Eye Disease. His clinical interests include blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, double vision, optic neuropathies, thyroid eye disease, and giant cell arteritis.

Clinical Summary

Dr. Lee sees patients with a variety of neuro-ophthalmic problems, including blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy, double vision, eye pain, pseudotumor cerebri, thyroid eye disease and giant cell arteritis.

Bio

Dr. Lobo was awarded his PhD degree from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. He then completed his Postdoctoral training at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Dr. Lobo was recruited from the Medical University of South Carolina and joined the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences at the University of Minnesota in April 2021.

Research Summary

Role of membrane receptors in dietary Vitamin A transport to the eye Mechanisms of retinal cell degeneration and regeneration Zebrafish and mouse genetics Role of Motor Proteins in Rhodopsin Localization and Trafficking Genetics of Ushers Syndrome Genetics of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Bio

Dr. Maltry is an ophthalmic pathologist.

Research Summary

Dr. Maltry has an interest in collaborative research involving the histopathological features of ophthalmic diseases including intraocular and orbital tumors, developmental anomalies, and inflammatory conditions. She also has a passion for medical student and resident education and wellness

Bio

Dr. McClelland sees patients with a variety of neuro-ophthalmic problems, including double vision, giant cell arteritis, hemifacial spasm/blepharospasm, neuro-ophthalmology, pseudotumor cerebri and strabismus.

Clinical Summary

Dr. McClelland sees patients with a variety of neuro-ophthalmic problems, including double vision, giant cell arteritis, hemifacial spasm/blepharospasm, neuro-ophthalmology, pseudotumor cerebri and strabismus.

Bio

Dr. McLoon received her PhD from the Department of Anatomy at the University of Illinois Medical Center, followed by postdoctoral studies with Dr. Ray Lund at the University of Washington and Medical University of South Carolina. She is a tenured Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences. She studies pharmacologic approaches to the treatment of eye movement disorders in children, specifically strabismus and nystagmus. She is focused on the cell biology and muscle stem cell populations within the muscles that move the eyes in the orbit, the extraocular muscles, to understand their sparing in diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and what goes awry in eye movement disorders. Recently she has added an interest in sex differences in retinal function and how this relates to neuropsychiatric disease.

Expertise
Strabismus, nystagmus, muscle stem cells, muscle injury, muscle regeneration, craniofacial muscles, neurotrophic factors

Research Summary

My laboratory focuses on understanding the potential mechanisms for two types of eye movement disorders: strabismus and nystagmus. Untreated these result in decreased visual acuity. Both involve the ocular motor system and the specialized skeletal muscles that move the eye, the extraocular muscles (EOM). We focus on the ability of retrogradely transported neurotrophic factors to alter the function and structure of the ocular motor system with the goal of developing a permanent therapeutic approach for these movement disorders. We have used RNAseq data to identify potential new therapeutic targets for development of treatments.

A second focus is the study of the muscle stem cell populations in the EOM that cause their differential sparing in degenerative disorders such as muscular dystrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We have identified a specific stem cell, expressing Pitx2, which we have implicated in this differential sparing. Further work will focus on using these stem cells to prevent limb muscle degeneration in these currently untreatable diseases.

Finally, we have started a new project looking at the electroretinogram (ERG) in various mouse models of disease. Our recent studies show a significant difference in ERG characteristics in a mouse model of schizophrenia compared to controls, suggesting a specific method by which differences in the brain can be measured in the retina.

Research interests:
Development of pharmacologic treatments for strabismus and infantile nystagmus syndrome
Extraocular muscle cell biology
Sparing of the extraocular muscles in muscular dystrophies
Molecular control of extraocular muscle properties and how these are affected in strabismus and nystagmus
Sex differences in the electroretinogram

Teaching Summary

Courses
NSC 5203 Neuroscience of Vision
NSC 8321 Career Skills for Neuroscientists

Bio

Awards & Recognition University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences Fellow Research Award (2014-2015) Fairview Champions of Care: Recognized by a patient who made a gift to the Fairview Foundation through the Champion of Care Program. (2015) Resident Representative (Chief Resident) – University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology (2010-2011) University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology Harry Plotke Award for the resident best exemplifying clinical skills, compassion and concern for the patient (2010-2011) Oculoplastics Award Recipient – recognizing outstanding surgical skills and aptitude in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery (2010)

Research Summary

Eyelid and orbital disease

Bio

Sandra R Montezuma, M.D, is a Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota.  She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She did her first residency training in ophthalmology at the Fundacion Oftalmologica de Santander, Colombia in 2001. She was a fully trained ophthalmologist before coming to the United states. She completed 10 more years of training at Harvard Medical School. In 2001 she joined the Boston Retinal Implant Project at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/ Harvard Medical School, where she performed basic science research for nearly 4 years. After her Research fellowship, she completed a second surgical internship at Brigham and Women’s hospital in 2005, a second residency in ophthalmology in 2008 and a Surgical Retina fellowship in 2010 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School. She joined the University of Minnesota in 2010. She was awarded a Distinguished Teaching and Service Award at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School, she received the 2010 Gilligham Fellowship Award at The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, the 13th Fellowship Research Award at the Retina Society, the Distinguished Mentoring Award at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2017, The Knobloch Chair Professorship in 2018, and the 2022 VSY Biotechnology Ophthalmology Star Awards among other awards. She has been  selected as the 2022 America’s Most Honored Doctors  by the American registry.  She is the current chief of the retina department at the UMN. Her research interest includes translational research in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Inherited Retinal Diseases, retinal implants, retinal prosthesis and retina surgery. Being a part of discovering cures for blinding conditions is Dr. Montezuma’s passion. She believes the ability to apply her clinical and surgical knowledge to help patients with all types of blinding conditions is truly a privilege. Dr. Montezuma has subspecialty expertise in providing medical and surgical care for all retina diseases in adults and children, including macular degeneration, inherited retinal dystrophies, diabetic retinopathy, retina detachments, macula holes, eye trauma and retinopathy of prematurity. The incredible advances in technology and research in the ophthalmological field keep her profession fresh and exciting. Dr. Montezuma finds interacting with patients and the ability to improve patients’ vision the most rewarding aspect of her job. She appreciates the long-term relationships she has with her patients and being able to meet their needs with the highest quality of eye care available.

Research Summary

Stem Cell Research for Age Related Macula Degeneration Retina Imaging Retinal implants Age-related macular degeneration Angiogenesis research

Clinical Summary

Sandra R Montezuma, M.D, is a Professor in Ophthalmology at the University of Minnesota.  She earned her medical degree from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She did her first residency training in ophthalmology at the Fundacion Oftalmologica de Santander, Colombia in 2001. She was a fully trained ophthalmologist before coming to the United states. She completed 10 more years of training at Harvard Medical School. In 2001 she joined the Boston Retinal Implant Project at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/ Harvard Medical School, where she performed basic science research for nearly 4 years. After her Research fellowship, she completed a second surgical internship at Brigham and Women’s hospital in 2005, a second residency in ophthalmology in 2008 and a Surgical Retina fellowship in 2010 at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School. She joined the University of Minnesota in 2010. She was awarded a Distinguished Teaching and Service Award at Massachusetts Eye and Ear infirmary/Harvard Medical School, she received the 2010 Gilligham Fellowship Award at The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, the 13th Fellowship Research Award at the Retina Society, the Distinguished Mentoring Award at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 2017, The Knobloch Chair Professorship in 2018, and the 2022 VSY Biotechnology Ophthalmology Star Awards among other awards. She has been  selected as the 2022 America’s Most Honored Doctors  by the American registry.  She is the current chief of the retina department at the UMN. Her research interest includes translational research in Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Inherited Retinal Diseases, retinal implants, retinal prosthesis and retina surgery. Being a part of discovering cures for blinding conditions is Dr. Montezuma’s passion. She believes the ability to apply her clinical and surgical knowledge to help patients with all types of blinding conditions is truly a privilege. Dr. Montezuma has subspecialty expertise in providing medical and surgical care for all retina diseases in adults and children, including macular degeneration, inherited retinal dystrophies, diabetic retinopathy, retina detachments, macula holes, eye trauma and retinopathy of prematurity. The incredible advances in technology and research in the ophthalmological field keep her profession fresh and exciting. Dr. Montezuma finds interacting with patients and the ability to improve patients’ vision the most rewarding aspect of her job. She appreciates the long-term relationships she has with her patients and being able to meet their needs with the highest quality of eye care available.