About

Open Projects for potential Graduate Students:

1. Development of novel in vivo molecular imaging probes for retinal hypoxia– In a series of publications, we demonstrated the development of in vivo molecular imaging probes for retinal hypoxia. These publications have led to discover highly sensitive molecular imaging probes for retinal hypoxia, HYPOX-4 a water soluble, non-toxic hypoxia sensitive imaging agent. This imaging method will be useful in visualizing disease onset, progression and response to therapy. In future studies, potential graduate student(s) will design and synthesize novel fluorescence compounds and test their sensitivity, specificity, pharmacokinetics and toxicity. Experience in organic synthesis, fluorescence small molecule characterization, NRM, LC-MS, HPLC, cell-culture, western-blot, qRT-PCR, molecular biology techniques and animal (rodents) handling abilities will be required.
2. Uddin, M. I.; Jayagopal, A.; McCollum, G. W.; Rong, Y.; Penn, J. S. In Vivo Imaging of Retinal Hypoxia using HYPOX-4-dependent Fluorescence in a Mouse Model of Laser-induced Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO). Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. In Press, 2017, 58(9), 3818-3824.
3. Uddin, M. I.; Evans, S. M.; Craft, J. R.; Capozzi, M. E.; McCollum, G. W.; Yang, R.; Marnett, L. J.; Uddin, M. J.; Jayagopal, A.; Penn, J. S. In Vivo Imaging of Retinal Hypoxia in a Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy. Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 31011.
4. Uddin, M. I., Evans, S. M., Craft, J. R., Marnett, L. J., Uddin, M. J. Joyagopal, A. Applications of azo-based probes for imaging retinal hypoxia. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2015, 6 (4), 445-449.
5. Evans, S. M.; Kim, K.; Moore, C. E.; Uddin, M. I.; Capozzi, M. E.; Craft, J. R.; Sulikowski, G. A.; Joyagopal, A. Molecular Probes for Imaging of Hypoxia in the Retina. Bioconjugate Chem., 2014, 25 (11), 2030–2037.

 

PATENT (assigned), Uddin, M. I.; Jayagopal, A.; Uddin, M.J.; Penn, J.S.; Marnett, L.J. (2016) Compositions and Method for Detecting Hypoxia. World Intellectual Property Organization, WO 2016/179117 A1.

 

2. 2. Novel methods for in vivo molecular imaging of mRNA expression in the living retina– Our efforts to develop novel in vivo molecular imaging techniques have been focused on visualizing RNA in living retinal tissues. This effort yielded publications demonstrating the characteristics of functionalized gold nanoparticles targeting specific mRNA in living retinal cells and tissues. In future studies, potential student(s) will design and synthesize novel fluorescence dye-conjugated RNA/DNA constructs and test their sensitivity, specificity, pharmacokinetics and toxicity in vitro and in vivo Strong computational skills with oligonucleotide design and synthesis, image processing, characterize using NRM, HPLC and LC-MS analysis, cell-culture, qRT-PCR, western-blot, molecular biology techniques and animal (rodents) handling abilities will be required.
3. Uddin, M. I.; Tyler, C. Kilburn; Craig L. Duvall; Penn, J. S. A novel method to visualize and track endogenous mRNA in a sub-population of bone marrow derived cells in pathological neovascularization. Nano Letters, 2020, (Submitted).
4. Uddin, M. I.; Jayagopal, A.; Wong, A.; McCollum, G. W.; Wright, D. W.; Penn, J. S. Real-time imaging of VCAM-1 mRNA in TNF-α activated retinal microvascular endothelial cells using antisense hairpin-DNA functionalized gold nanoparticles. Nanomedicine:NBM, 2018, 14(1), 63-71.
5. Uddin, M. I.; Kilburn, T.C.; Rong, Y.; McCollum, G.W.; Wright, D.W.; Penn, J.S. Targeted imaging of VCAM-1 mRNA in a mouse model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (LCNV) using antisense hairpin-DNA functionalized gold-nanoparticles. 2018, (In Press).

PATENT (applied), Uddin, M. I.; Penn, J.S.; Duvall, CL. Methods for targeted delivery of shRNA-lipid bioconjugates to the ocular tissues for molecular imaging and gene silencing in vivo. United States Patent Application, 2019.

 

Funded Projects:

Current

(1)       National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute   R01EY029693-01

Title:    In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Vascular Disease of the Retina

Role: PI

Funding period (Approved): $ 2,098,330; Start date 03-1-2019 end date 02-29-2024.

 

(2)       BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Research Grant

Title:    Hairpin-DNA functionalized nanoformulation for specific gene silencing in vivo in an animal model of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)

Role: PI

Funding period (Approved): $ 200,000; 7/01/2019 to 06/30/2021.

 

(3) National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute   R01EY023397-07

Title: In Vivo Molecular Imaging of the Retina

Role: PI contact (Penn MPI)

Funding period (Approved): $ 1,700,000; Start date 3-01-2013 end date 5-31-2023.

Completed

(1)       National Institute of Health sponsored MICROMouse Program (MMPC), NIDDK Subcontract to Georgia Regents University

Title:    In Vivo Imaging of Retinal Hypoxia in a Preclinical Model of Diabetic Retinopathy

Role: PI

Funding period:           $ 75,000; Start date 1/01/2018 end date 12/31/2018.

 

(2)       Knights Templar Eye Foundation Pediatric Ophthalmology Career Starter Grant

Title:    In vivo Imaging of Retinal Hypoxia in a Preclinical Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity

Role: PI

Funding period: $ 130,000; 7/01/2016 to 03/31/2019.

Grants Submitted for Funding

(1)       American Diabetes Association

Title:    Endoglin as a Portal for Transfection-free Targeted Delivery and Gene Silencing in

Diabetic Retinopathy.

Role: PI

Funding period (Pending):     $ 345,000; Start date 1/01/2021 end date 12/31/2023.