Gianni Castiglione, Ph.D.

Research

My lab is discovering molecular systems that protect retinal cells from damage. A lifetime of exposure to light can lead to the accumulation of toxic byproducts that impair vision. In my lab, we discovered that the visual pigment rhodopsin can sequester these toxic molecules—enhanced in animals with heightened visual sensitivity, such as bats. Furthermore, we found that the rhodopsin produced by flying fox bats could protect retinas from light damage when modified and expressed in mice. Now, combining cutting-edge techniques in biochemistry, genetic engineering, and cell and evolutionary biology, my research will optimize this treatment by characterizing and incorporating the improvements found in species whose rhodopsins are even more protective than that of bats. We will also develop a new therapeutic approach based on the proteins that interact with rhodopsin, which enhance photoprotection in owls and whales. This work could lead to promising new treatments for visual impairments such as age-related macular degeneration.