William Eldred Email & Phone Number

Research InterestsMy research for the past 15 years has focused on the role of the gaseous neuromodulator nitric oxide (NO) in retinal signal transduction and ocular pathology. We have examined the role that NO plays in the early neuronal cell death seen in diabetic retinopathy. We focused on the role that the signaling peptide adrenomedullin plays in producing the pathological increases in NO found in early diabetic retinopathy. We have found a pharmacological intervention that inhibits the pathological activation of the adrenomedullin/NO signaling pathway. More recently we have been focusing on the cellular signaling pathways that are involved in traumatic brain injury using both retina and brain as model systems. We have found a number of neurochemical and pathological markers (calcium binding proteins, GFAP, activated microglia, etc.) that are modulated by blast in both brain and retina. By using the retina, which is extremely well characterized anatomically, physiologically and neurochemically, we can determine the underlying signaling pathways that are responsible for the pathology. This will allow us to develop both prophylactic and post-blast treatment strategies to reduce the pathology produced by blast in both retina and brain. Finally, as the histologist for the Boston Retinal Implant Group we are studying the biological interactions of both pig and human retinas with microfabricated multielectrode arrays. This retinal prosthetic device is used to deliver electrical stimulation to retinas in order to restore some vision to patients who have become blind from degenerative retinal diseases like retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Specialties: retinal anatomy and neurochemistry, nitric oxide, diabetes, cell signaling

Listed skills include Cell Signaling, Neuroscience, Signal Transduction, Microscopy, and 14 others.