Colleen
McDowell

I have dedicated 20 years to research in the visual sciences, with a primary focus on uncovering the molecular pathogenesis of glaucoma, particularly in the trabecular meshwork (TM), retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and optic nerve head (ONH). My work integrates primary cell culture, animal models, and human tissue to develop disease-modifying therapies. I possess a comprehensive background in glaucoma biology, including the development and characterization of mouse models for ocular hypertension and glaucoma. As a graduate student at the University of Iowa, I identified the first mouse model of exfoliation syndrome, a leading cause of open-angle glaucoma, and demonstrated several physiological parallels between this model and human disease. As a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, I expanded my work to include the use of viral vectors to induce glaucoma phenotypes in mice to dissect the complex molecular pathways of glaucoma. As an independent investigator, my laboratory focuses on the development and regulation of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as the effect of elevated IOP on RGC survival and ONH damage. I have a vast experience in mouse genetics and the use of inbred mouse strains to identify strain specific differences. We have multiple mouse model systems of ocular hypertension and glaucoma and the tools and expertise to identify molecular and physiological changes relevant to glaucoma.