Wonkyu “Daniel” Ju, PhD, Professor in the Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology and Shiley Eye Institute (SEI,) is a recipient of the UC San Diego Gene Therapy Initiative (GTI) Seed Grant Award.

The award promotes scientific advancement of gene therapy programs among researchers at UC San Diego. Ju’s project, “A-kinase anchoring protein 1-mediated neuroprotection in glaucoma” was selected among a competitive pool of innovative and high-caliber research proposals that investigated a variety of different gene therapy technologies.

Glaucoma remains a leading cause of global blindness by damaging the nerve in the back of the eye called the optic nerve. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysfunction in mitochondria (the energy producers in cells) is a critical element in the development of glaucoma. A-Kinase anchoring protein 1(AKAP1) helps keep mitochondria healthy. Ju’s study proposes to use an adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) to put AKAP1 into the retina of people with glaucoma. The goal is to protect the nerves in the eye and help treat glaucoma.

The UC San Diego GTI drives innovative discoveries and paves the way for further advancements in gene therapy. It aims to achieve medical breakthroughs in gene therapy through the sharing of knowledge, resources, collaboration of key investigators and clinicians, and establish strategic academia-industry partnerships. To view award winners: https://genetherapy.ucsd.edu/seed-grant/index.html

For more information, please contact:

Karen Anisko Ryan, MS kanisko@ucsd.edu 858-534-8017