معرفی
David S. Williams is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Neurobiology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine. His work focuses on the cell biology of photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, particularly their role in inherited retinal diseases like Usher syndrome and age-related macular degeneration. He also explores gene therapy approaches and mitochondrial metabolism in retinal health.
Dr. Williams earned his PhD in Neurobiology from the Australian National University in 1982. His research spans organelle transport, cell polarization, and metabolic regulation in RPE cells, with recent emphasis on machine learning-based 3D imaging and SARS-CoV-2 impacts on retinal function.
His publications highlight innovations in ciliary transport mechanisms (e.g., Hedgehog signaling), RPE differentiation (e.g., nicotinamide effects), and retinal disease modeling (e.g., Usher syndrome, AMD). The lab utilizes stem cell models and in vivo studies to advance gene augmentation and editing therapies.
Scientific Awards:
- The Endre A. Balazs Prize for Eye Research (2022)
- UCLA Postdoctoral Mentoring Award (2022)
- UCLA Undergraduate Research Faculty Mentor Award (2021)
Dr. Williams has trained numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, including Roni Hazim, Nan Hultgren, and Gil Torten. His lab also collaborates with institutions on grants like NIH R01EY027442 and R01EY013408, focusing on RPE cell biology and photoreceptor architecture.
Key lab projects include 3D ultrastructural analysis of rod synapses, defective phagosome motility in macular degeneration, and preservation of retinal nanostructure via advanced imaging techniques. His lab website details ongoing work on usher syndrome, Batten disease models, and mitochondrial dynamics in retinal cells.
