Dr. Kantorow's Research
Dr. Kantorow's laboratory focuses on understanding mitochondrial mechanisms in ocular development and disease. Specifically his group focuses on the eye lens and the retina as models for understanding cell differentiation, cell function and disease. His group's work ranges from analysis of the functions of genes identified to cause ocular disease when mutated, to the direct of effects of UV-light and other agents associated with the development of ocular disease on mitochondrial and other cell functions. In addition to understanding the how the functions of ocular cells are altered in disease states, his group also examines how manipulation of key cell systems can be applied to treat and/or prevent ocular diseases including age-related cataract formation and macular degenerations that are the leading causes of visual disability.
Finally, his group is using the knowledge gained from these studies to engineer cell systems and cells that can be transplanted into cells or tissues to restore the functions of damaged organs. A wide variety of techniques are employed by Dr. Kantorow's group including human genetic analysis, protein biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, gene expression studies, confocal and electron microscopy, transgenic and knockout mouse and chick models, Bioinformatic analysis, computational biology and global expression and gene modification analysis. Dr. Kantorow's laboratory and research program have been continually funded by the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health for the last 18 years. His work has also been supported by the American Health Assistance Foundation and the Rand Eye Institute of Boca Raton.