Johnny DI Pierdomenico Spitilli

Johnny DI Pierdomenico Spitilli is a permanent Professor at the University of Murcia, affiliated with the Faculty of Optics and Optometry and the Department of Ophthalmology, Optometry, Otolaryngology, and Pathological Anatomy. His research focuses on retinal degeneration mechanisms, neuroprotection strategies, and glial cell interactions in eye diseases. Key areas include stem cell transplantation, taurine-based therapies, and the effects of anti-VEGF treatments on retinal structures.

Education: PhD in Biomedical Sciences (2017) from the University of Murcia, supervised by Dr. Diego García Ayuso, Dr. Marta Agudo Barriuso, and Dr. María Paz Villegas Pérez. His thesis explored glial responses and intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in inherited photoreceptor degeneration models.

Research Interests:

• Retinal ganglion cell survival and axotomy
• Photoreceptor degeneration therapies
• Microglial and Müller cell roles in retinal remodeling
• Effects of taurine depletion on retinal health
• Stem cell transplantation efficacy in animal models
• Neuroprotective agents for glaucoma and phototoxicity

Publications highlight advancements in understanding retinal cell dynamics, including studies on LED-induced phototoxicity, minocycline efficacy in glaucoma models, and the dual-edged effects of olfactory ensheathing glia transplants. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, such as contact lens comfort improvements and telemedicine-based visual acuity assessments.

Lab/Team: Member of the Experimental Ophthalmology research group at the University of Murcia, collaborating on projects involving retinal regeneration and disease mechanisms.