David Williams

David Williams is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He leads the Retinal Cell Biology Laboratory at the Stein Eye Institute, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell biology, with a strong emphasis on inherited retinal diseases like Usher Syndrome and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

His research integrates mouse genetics, biochemistry, live-cell imaging, and stem cell models to dissect pathways involved in protein transport, organelle polarization, and mitochondrial metabolism. He has pioneered gene therapy approaches for Usher Syndrome and developed human iPSC-derived RPE models for AMD studies. Recent work highlights mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RPE and the role of actin dynamics in phagosome scission.

• 2025: Discovery of circadian regulation in RPE phagocytosis
• 2024: Mechanistic insights into SARS-CoV-2 retinal impact
• 2023: Key findings on MYO7A isoforms in Usher Syndrome
• 2022: Vitamin B3's role in mitochondrial-driven RPE differentiation

Dr. Williams has received prestigious awards including the 2022 Endre A. Balazs Prize and multiple mentoring recognitions. His lab trains postdoctoral and graduate researchers, several of whom have secured competitive fellowships like NIH K99/R00 grants and Bright Focus Foundation fellowships.