William Bishop, BSc
Medical Student, West Virginia University, 2011

Donika Gallina, PhD

Kanika Ghai, PhD
Scientific Consultant, New York, NY, 2009

Zachary Goodman, BSc
Medical Student, The Ohio State University, 2011

Ghezal Omar, MSc
Research Associate, University of Washington, 2006

Eric Ritchey, OD, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Houston, 2011

Jennifer Stanke, PhD
Lecturer, Akron Children's Hospital, Aultman Hospital College of Nursing, Akron, Ohio, 2009

Lilia Steffenson, BSc
Medical Student, University of Cincinnati, 2012

Chris Zelinka
Graduate Student, Florida State University, 2013

The Fischer Laboratory uses molecular and cellular methodologies to investigate the mechanism underlying the ability of Müller glia to be reprogrammed into Müller glia-derived progenitors cells (MGPCs) with a capacity for neurogenesis in both chick and mouse model systems. Neural regeneration in the fish retina has been known for more than 60 years. Amazingly, the fish retina can be severely damaged, visual acuity lost, but neurons regenerated and functional vision restored several weeks after injury. By comparison, the regenerative potential of MGPCs is greatly diminished in birds, and even further reduced in mammals.

The current focus of the lab is:

1. To understand the coordination and hierarchy of a network of signaling pathways that influence the formation of proliferation of Müller gli-derived progenitor cells (MGPCs);
2. To identify factors that influence the ability of progeny produced by Müller glia to differentiate as neurons;
3. To identify the mechanisms by which reactive microglia regulate the formation of MGPCs;
4. To comparatively analyze genes involved in the reprogramming of Müller glia into neurogenic MGCPs in fish, birds and mammals.

PubMed articles

Google Scholar articles