Eric
Ma

Eric Ma is a postdoctoral scholar in the Cardiovascular Biology Research Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), where he studies the mechanisms of vascular regression and regeneration in eye diseases. During his graduate training, he developed a strong foundation in ocular vascular biology, with expertise in pathological angiogenesis in the retinal and choroidal vasculature. His work has led to more than ten peer-reviewed publications and multiple collaborative research projects. Eric joined Dr. Courtney Griffin’s laboratory at OMRF to investigate the understudied process of vascular regression, combining advanced genetic models with his background in ophthalmology research.

During his postdoctoral training, he identified key ETS transcription factors that regulate retinal vascular regression in mouse models of retinopathy of prematurity and diabetic retinopathy, a finding recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. His current research focuses on age-related macular degeneration, particularly how loss of protective ETS signaling contributes to choroidal vascular atrophy and degeneration of the choriocapillaris. By integrating genetic mouse models, transcriptomic technologies, and human donor eye tissues, his work aims to identify new therapeutic strategies to preserve the choroidal vasculature, protect the outer retina, and slow vision loss in AMD. This research supports his long-term goal of becoming an independent scientist dedicated to developing innovative vascular therapies for blinding eye diseases.