معرفی
Catherine Cheng is an Associate Professor at the Indiana University School of Optometry, where she joined as an Assistant Professor in 2018. She holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UC Berkeley and UCSF (2009) with postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley and The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Cheng is a Graduate Faculty member with endorsement to chair PhD committees and teaches courses in Ocular Biology (V 540) and Systems Approach to Biomedical Sciences (V 542).
Dr. Cheng's research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms for establishing and maintaining lifelong homeostasis and transparency in the eye lens. She uses the lens as a model to study gap junction communication, chaperone-like activity of small heat shock proteins, Eph-ephrin bidirectional signaling, and cytoskeletal networks. Her work has established connections between mutations in EphA2 and ephrin-A5 with congenital and age-related cataracts in humans and mice.
Her laboratory has developed innovative techniques including quantitative methods to measure light scattering in cataractous mouse lenses, protocols to determine relative mouse lens stiffness, and novel immunostaining methods for single lens fiber cells coupled with super-resolution microscopy. These approaches have advanced understanding of lens biomechanical integrity and the cellular mechanisms underlying cataract formation.
Analysis of Dr. Cheng's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Eph-ephrin signaling pathways in lens biology, with particular attention to how these molecular mechanisms affect lens structure, biomechanics, and cataractogenesis. Her work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational applications for understanding and potentially treating age-related lens pathologies.
Dr. Cheng is an active member of the scientific community, belonging to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the American Physiological Society. Her ongoing research projects include studying the role of Eph-ephrin bidirectional signaling in eye lens cataractogenesis, lens ion and fluid homeostasis, cell patterning and organization, and cellular mechanisms of eye lens biomechanical properties.
Her laboratory continues to investigate the mechanisms for congenital and age-related cataracts caused by mutations in the Eph-ephrin bidirectional signaling pathway, with the ultimate goal of developing pharmaceuticals to prevent or delay age-related lens pathologies including cataracts and presbyopia.
