A major goal of our research is to understand the fundamental steps that lead to new vessel formation in the cornea and other tissues. We are evaluating the angiogenic effect of various putative angiogenic factors, including growth factors and cytokines, and are assessing anti- angiogenic agents using several in vivo systems in which the angiogenic response can be quantitated, especially with image processing methods. Many experiments employ inbred and transgenic mice, and part of our investigations focus on mice with genetic mutations that lead to spontaneous corneal vascularization.

Another aspect of our work involves the characterization of tissue specific proteins in normal and pathologic corneas, and especially in certain corneal dystrophies. These investigations are part of long-term projects aimed at eventually cloning the relevant genes. Another major goal of our research is to further knowledge about the cornea in health and disease in terms of current concepts of molecular pathobiology.