معرفی
Amy Kiernan, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD). Her research focuses on understanding molecular pathways in sensory organ development using mouse genetics. Key projects include studying Notch signaling and SOX2 in inner ear and eye development, with applications to therapies for deafness, vision loss, and vestibular dysfunction. She leads the Kiernan Lab, which employs advanced genetic tools like conditional gene targeting to investigate sensory organ formation and disease.
Education: PhD in Biology from Boston College (1997), BA in Biology from College of the Holy Cross (1992).
Research Interests: Sensory organ development, Notch signaling pathways, SOX2 transcription factor roles, mouse genetic models of glaucoma and deafness. Current projects address anterior segment dysgenesis (ASD), JAGGED1’s role in inner ear precursor cells, and SOX2’s role in prosensory lineage development.
Recent Work Trends: Recent articles emphasize Notch pathway regulation in supporting cells and vestibular function (2025), Notch1’s role in cochlear maturation (2022), and SOX2’s impact on inner ear neurogenesis (2017). Studies often integrate mouse models to explore translational therapies for sensory organ diseases.
Labs/Teams: Kiernan Lab at URMC, collaborating with experts in otology, ophthalmology, and developmental biology. The lab’s work bridges basic science and clinical applications, particularly in understanding congenital defects and age-related sensory decline.
