Allen Taylor, PhD

Senior Scientist and Director, Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research
Professor of Nutrition, Biochemistry and Ophthalmology

Dr. Taylor directs, coordinates and designs (with LNVR staff) epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory research in the LNVR and its collaborating institutions. This includes human and animal studies that seek to discover behaviors, environmental influences, methods and molecules that diminish the risk for cataract and AMD (age-related macular degeneration). He designs laboratory studies which are defining relations between oxidative stress, protein damage, aberrations in protein turnover, protein quality control, and the cytotoxic accumulation of damaged proteins upon aging in the eye. This work includes studies regarding the roles of the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway in cell proliferation, differentiation and organogenesis. Dr. Taylor also started and directs Scientific Training Encouraging Peace - Graduate Training Program (STEP-GTP.org). The objective of STEP-GTP is capacity and bridge-building in the Israel-Palestine area.

Fu Shang, PhD

Scientist I

Dr. Shang designs studies focusing on the functions of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in protein quality control and cell signaling in ocular tissues. He is specifically interested in investigating the oxidation and age-related impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and its physiological consequences, including impaired cell signaling and accumulation of damaged proteins in RPE and lens epithelial cells. These alterations are causally related to the pathogenesis of macular degeneration and cataract. Dr. Shang is also pursuing interaction between nutritional antioxidants and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in ocular tissues.

Elizabeth Whitcomb, PhD

Scientist III

Dr. Whitcomb is working on two projects:

1) defining the function of specific ubiquitinating enzymes in regulation of cell division, lens differentiation, and retina cells/tissues

2) determining roles for the ubiquitin pathway in recognition and removal of damaged proteins. She uses replication-deficient viruses and siRNA in her laboratory models.

Chung-Jung Chiu, PhD

Scientist III

Dr. Chiu performs statistical analysis on epidemiological data from the Nutrition and Vision Project of the Nurses' Health Study and the Age-Related Eye Disease Study as well as on data from The Rotterdam Eye Study and Melbourne Vision Impairment Project. His current interests include understanding relations between carbohydrate intake, genetics, metabolism, and risk for age-related cataract and age-related retina disease.

Ed Dudek, PhD

Research Associate

Dr. Dudek is using newly discovered methods to demonstrate roles for the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway to clear cells of age related deamidated and/or oxidatively damaged proteins. He is also working on roles for ubiquitin conjugating enzymes in directing rates of cell division.

Orna Avidan, PhD

Research Associate

Dr. Avidan is currently focusing on the primary causes of eye lens cataract and degeneration of the retina in order to prolong their use. Her research explores the functions of the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway in regulation of cell division and differentiation and the regulation of protein quality control in response to oxidative stress upon aging.

Johnvesly Basappa, PhD

Research Associate

Dr. Basappa is studying the effects of varying levels of ubiquitin conjugating enzymes on progress of cells through the cell cycle, particularly as these are influenced by environment and nutrition.

Wangwang Jiao, PhD

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Jiao is currently studying 1) relations between glycation of proteins and their accessibility to the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway 2) the effects of glycation on the activity of specific components of the ubiquitin proteolytic pathway 3) relations between the ubiquitin and lysosome-related proteolytic pathways and on cellular responses to stress.

Qingning Bian, MD

Visiting Graduate Research Assistant

Ms. Bian is studying the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in cell signaling in lens epithelial cells and in retina pigment epithelial cells, particularly in response to oxidative stress.

Paulo Pereira, PhD

Senior Fulbright Fellow

Dr. Pereira is focusing his research on the effects of protein glycation in retina pigmented epithelial cells.

Andrea Caceres , BA

Senior Research Technician

Ms. Caceres is investigating ubiquitin ligases that use K6 on ubiquitin because we observed that deleting K6 on ubiquitin causes a profound abnormal eye phenotype.

Karen McGuigan, BS

Graduate Research Assistant

Ms. McGuigan investigates how changing ratios of ubiquitin conjugating enzymes control the cell cycle and how nutrients affect this regulation.

Jeanne Lin, BA

Staff Assistant

Ms. Lin edits manuscripts and grant proposals; manages grants and laboratory budget expenses; does data entry and monitoring for the LNVR, and performs administrative duties.