Pharmacologic cell engineering to restore vision

October 23, 2020 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Dr. Sai Chavala
TCU/UNTHSC School of Medicine

ABSTRACT: Our team has identified a novel technology to chemically engineer dermal fibroblasts into photoreceptor-like cells (CiPCs). CiPC transplantation in blind mice demonstrates efficacy in improving certain aspects of vision and visual behavior. The chemical cocktail can induce transdifferentiation into retinal-like cells in less than two weeks. This technology is cost- and time-efficient because it bypasses pluripotent stem cells, and has tremendous potential for precision medicine.

BIOGRAPHY: Dr. Sai Chavala graduated from the University of Missouri in an accelerated program with his bachelor’s and medical degrees. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Cole Eye Institute Cleveland Clinic Foundation and a research fellowship in stem cells, regenerative medicine, and angiogenesis at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Chavala then completed a fellowship in surgical retina at Duke University. He later served as an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, where he taught the latest techniques in retinal surgery to ophthalmologists in training. Dr. Chavala currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Texas Christian University/University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas. His research is focused on bioengineering cell therapy approaches to rehabilitate the retina to restore vision. He has led or participated in more than 75 scholarly presentations, research publications and patents, and is dedicated to several philanthropic activities.