Mallika Vlapala, PhD

The primary focus of my laboratory research program is to investigate molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of cellular clearance processes in the retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE). Our approach is to identify the molecular mechanisms that co-regulate autophagy and lysosomal function in the RPE and to use this knowledge to develop effective therapeutic strategies to prevent RPE degeneration during the pathogenesis of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).