Ching-Kang Jason Chen, PhD, FARVO

We study basic mechanisms of mammalian visual sensation at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels in the retina. The Chen Laboratory is specialized in vision research with a focus on 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 transducins 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 phototranscution) 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 function and mechanisms of TBR2 in retinal ganglion cell development; 4) the mechanism and consequence of photoreceptor degeneration in the retina; and 5) comprehensive classification of retinal neurons using intrinsic membrane properties, dendritic morphologies, light response profiles, and single cell analytics. We love to focus on basic research topics because it is the corner stone of new knowledge that spawns novel therapeutic and interventional modalities that combat human blinding diseases. The lab has been continuously funded by the National Eye Institute since 2002 and supported periodically by private vision research foundations. We are recruiting at all levels career partners with an open mind and distinguishable bench skills.