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A Note From the Dean of Research
The Research Department highlight for 2016 was the news that our newest research faculty member, Dr. Jingyun Wang, was funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI). Her grant is entitled "Efficacy of Intermittent Occlusion in Amblyopia Treatment" and it is a two-year grant funded though the R21 mechanism. The R21 mechanism program supports the early and conceptual stages of research and provides up to two years of funding. Dr. Wang's study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel amblyopia treatment - Intermittent occlusion therapy (IO-therapy) using glasses (AmblyzTM) in treating severe amblyopia. Children ages three to eight years with severe amblyopia (visual acuity of 20/100 to 20/400 in the amblyopic eye) will be enrolled and randomized into two groups: 1) standard 6-hour patching group or 2) 12-hour IO-therapy glasses group.
I am also pleased to report that many faculty members have taken advantage of our new small project funding opportunity and statistical consultation. During this first year we have awarded over $16,000 for seven research studies. In addition, nine faculty members and two PhD students have utilized our new statistical support program.
Please keep these two programs in mind and try and take advantage of these programs in the next academic year.
Mitchell Scheiman, OD, PhD
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Unit of Regulatory and Molecular Biology
Dr. Rameshwar Sharma, distinguished professor
Dr. Teresa Duda, professor
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Dr. Sharma Dr. Duda
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Dr. Rameshwar K. Sharma accepted the position of Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in mid-2006 and at the end of that year was joined by Dr. Teresa Duda (Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology). Together they established the Unit of Regulatory and Molecular Biology with the aim of continuing studies on membrane guanylate cyclase signaling mechanism in the sensory neurons and cardiovascular system and to forma solid foundation of basic research at PCO-Salus University.
Past Research
In a period spanning more than four decades, our research team has dedicated itself to the advancement of the field of membrane guanylate cyclase signal transduction in the vertebrate systems. This paved the way to novel and frontier venues. The cyclic GMP signaling was established as an intracellular hormonal signal transduction pathway and all the controversies on its non-existence were eliminated. The first membrane guanylate cyclase was purified to homogeneity and characterized in our laboratory. The protein was shown to be of dual activity; it was a receptor of the most hypotensive hormone ANF (atrial natriuretic factor) and the guanylate cyclase; therefore the name was coined ANF receptor guanylate cyclase, ANF-RGC (Paul et al., Science,1987; Duda et al., PNAS 1992).  This finding was revolutionary because the two, known at that time, second messenger signaling systems, cyclic AMP and inositol triphosphate, did not embody these characteristics. This discovery was the backbone of modern clinical medicine in treating hypertension. The drugs used are designed to keep the hormonal levels up and to generate cyclic GMP which, in turn relaxes smooth muscle and lowers blood pressure. Read more
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