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Ching-Kang Chen

Contact

210-562-4135

chenc10@uthscsa.edu

Departments & Divisions

Ching-Kang Jason Chen, PhD, FARVO

Professor

Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Retinal Signaling

Currently seeking Ph.D. students

We study basic mechanisms of mammalian visual sensation at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels. The Chen Laboratory is specialized in the roles of heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in the mouse visual system. We have identified and characterized genes such as G protein-couple receptor kinase 1 (GRK1), Regulators of G-protein signaling 9 (RGS9), and G protein b subunit 5 (Gb5) which are indispensable for timely recovery of retinal rod and cone photoreceptors, as well as determined the deactivation of visual transducin as the rate-limiting step in the recovery phase of rod and cone phototransduction. We also figured out the roles of Gb5 and its obligate partners R7 subgroup of RGS proteins including RGS7 and RGS11 at the first visual synapse in retinal depolarizing bipolar cells.

We currently collaborate with in-house and outside investigators to examine: 1) the mechanism and biological function of a novel phototransduction pathway called TMIP (transducin- and melanopsin-independent phototransduction) in the mouse retina; 2) the role of wide-field amacrine cells in retinal function including the TH2-AC, and the TBR2-expressing displaced amacrine cells WAC-1 and WAC-2; 3) the role of trophoblast glycoprotein (TPBG) in the retina; 4) the function and mechanisms of TBR2 in retinal ganglion cell development; 5) the mechanisms and consequence of photoreceptor degeneration; and 6) comprehensive integration of retinal neuron classification using intrinsic membrane properties, dendritic morphologies, genetic marking, light response profiles, and transcriptome.

By focusing on basic mechanisms underlying vision, we aim to understand blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and Oguchi disease, as well as develop novel therapeutic and interventional modalities. Our work is supported by the National Eye Institute since 2002 and private foundations such as the Retina Research Foundation

 

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2000 - Postoc - Biology - Caltech
    • 1995 - PhD - Biochemistry - University of Washington
    • 1987 - MS - Botany - National Taiwan University
    • 1985 - BS - Biology - Tunghai Universitye

    Appointments

    • 2023 - Professor - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2014 - Professor - Baylor College of Medicine
    • 2012 - Professor - Virginia Commonwealth University
    • 2005 - Associate Professor - Virginia Commonwealth University
    • 2000 - Assistant Professor - University of Utah

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2023-present, Lecturer in Fundamental Neuroscience II (INTD 5043) , University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2024-present , Lecturer in Fundamental Neuroscience I (INTD 5040), University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2024-present , Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    Active

    NIH RO1 EY032898 (09/2022~06/2027, role: PI), Title: The role of transducin- and melanopsin-independent phototransduction in postnatal retinal development.

    NIH RO1 EY034219 (09/2022~06/2027, role: PI), Title: The role of wide-field amacrine cells in mammalian retina.

    UTHealth-Houston RO1 EY024376 subcontract (05/2023~04/2025, role: co-PI), Title: Role of T-box transcriptional regulators in the development of RGC subtypes.

    Retina Research Foundation Research Grant (01/2024~12/2024, role: PI), Title: Novel human Oguchi disease mechanisms.

    UT STARs (12/2023~11/2026, role: PI), Title: Heterotrimeric G-protein signaling in Vision: a genetic, biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral approach.

     

    Completed

    Alice McPherson Retina Research Foundation Endowed Chair (01/2014-02/2023)

    NIH RO1 EY013811 (07/2002~12/2019, role: PI), Title: Recovery of Phototransduction.

    NIH RO1 EY026930 (09/2017~08/2022, role: contact PI), Title: Mechanisms, functions, and utility of neuronal oscillation in deafferentated retina.

    NIH RO1 EY022228 (08/2012~07/2017, role: PI), Title: The role of Gbeta5 and R7RGS protein in vision.

    Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., Career Development Award (07/2002~04/2005, role: PI). Mouse models of human Oguchi disease.

    Knights Templar Eye Foundation (2002, role: PI), Title: Generation of a mouse model of human stationary night blindness.

    Karl Kirchgessner Foundation (2003, role: PI), Title: The role of caspase inhibition in hereditary and light-dependent photoreceptor degeneration.

     

  • Service

    Institutional

    2023-present             Student Oversight Committee, Neuroscience Program, IBMS

    2024-present             LSOM Faculty Assembly Executive Committee

    Service to the Profession

    2024 ad hoc stage-1 reviewer NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2)

    2023 ad hoc reviewer NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Program (DP5)

    2022 scientific chair NIH ZRG1 ICN-U 02 M study section

    2022 ad hoc reviewer NIH ZEY1 VSN (07) study section

    2020 ad hoc reviewer  NIH BVS and DPVS study sections

    2019 ad hoc reviewer NIH BVS and DPVS study sections

    2019 scientific chair NIH ZRG1 CB-H (02) C study section

    2018 ad hoc reviewer NIH ZRG1 CB-S (02) M study section

    2018 ad hoc mail reviewer NIH CSR Anonymization Study (CB IRG)

    2017 ad hoc reviewer NIH for BVS, SYN, ZRG1 CB-W (02) M study sections

    2016 ad hoc reviewer NIH ZRG1 CB-W (02) M study section

    2016 scientific chair NIH ZRG1 MDCN-C (04) M study section

    2013-2015 scientific chair NIH BVS study section

    2012-2013 chartered reviewer NIH BVS study section

    2010-2011 chartered reviewer NIH BDPE study section

    2009 ad hoc reviewer NIH ZRG1-CB-N 58 study section

    2007 ad hoc reviewer Department of Veterans Affairs

    2006 ad hoc reviewer NIH BDPE study section

    2004 ad hoc reviewer NIH ZRG1 SSS-U (05) M study section

     

  • Publications