Anne Hanneken

Dr. Anne Hanneken is an Associate Professor of Translational Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), specializing in ophthalmology and macular degeneration research. She holds joint clinical appointments as a Vitreoretinal Surgeon and Vice-President at Retina Consultants San Diego. Her research focuses on improving photoreceptor cell function through drug design, computational modeling, and investigating natural compounds like flavonoids for neuroprotection.

• Education: B.S. in Chemistry (Marquette University, 1978), M.D. (Medical College of Wisconsin, 1984).
• Research Interests: Macular degeneration, retinal pigment epithelium biology, oxidative stress, and drug development for vision restoration.

Her lab has pioneered breakthroughs such as reviving light signaling in postmortem human retinas (Nature, 2022) and identifying flavonoids' protective roles in retinal cells. Collaborations include the Salk Institute and University of Utah.

• Awards: Multiple Castle Connolly Top Doctor awards, Marquette University Distinguished Alumnus (2016), Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award (2011).

Key grants include NIH/NEI funding. Lab members include Jennifer Johnson (Senior Scientist), Thomas Neikirk (Research Assistant), and Michael Pique (Computer Graphics Director). Ongoing projects explore macular transplantation and allosteric modulators for vision enhancement.