Muna Naash

Dr. Muna Naash is the John S Dunn Endowed Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Houston. Her research focuses on genetic mutations in hereditary retinal disorders and viral/non-viral ocular gene delivery. She leads three active NIH RO1 grants totaling $3.3M and has additional funding from the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research. Her work spans retinal degeneration mechanisms, metabolic pathways, and therapeutic approaches using nanoparticles.

Education:

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX)
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX)
• Pre-doctoral Fellow, Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine

Research Interests:

• Genetic mutations in retinal diseases
• Gene delivery systems (viral/non-viral)
• Metabolic homeostasis in retina/RPE interactions
• Photoreceptor protein trafficking and degeneration
• Stem cell therapies for retinal regeneration

Grants & Funding:

• NIH RO1 grants ($3.3M)
• Foundation Fighting Blindness
• Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research

Laboratory & Teams: Operates a translational research lab focused on retinal degeneration mechanisms and therapeutic development, collaborating with ophthalmology and bioengineering teams.