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Dean Bok Laboratory

Retinal Pigment Epithelium Biology

Investigating the structure and function of the RPE and its role in retinal health and disease

Dr. Dean Bok

Dean Bok, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus

Department of Ophthalmology

Jules Stein Eye Institute

University of California, Los Angeles

Dr. Bok's research focused on the structure and function of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and its critical role in supporting photoreceptor cells. The RPE is a monolayer of cells that forms the outer blood-retinal barrier, providing essential metabolic support to the overlying photoreceptors.

Key research questions include:

  • What are the molecular mechanisms governing RPE phagocytosis of shed photoreceptor outer segments?
  • How do visual cycle biochemical pathways operate within the RPE?
  • What RPE cellular defects underlie age-related macular degeneration and other retinal degenerations?
  • How can understanding RPE biology inform therapeutic strategies for retinal disease?

Dr. Bok's contributions have provided foundational insights into RPE biology and the pathogenesis of retinal degenerative diseases, establishing a framework for cell-based and pharmacological therapies targeting the RPE.