Roxana A. Radu Laboratory

Dr. Radu leads a cutting-edge research program focused on understanding and treating degenerative macular diseases, specifically Stargardt disease (STGD1) and age-dependent macular degeneration (AMD). Dr. Radu’s group has made significant breakthroughs in understanding complex eye diseases. Key discoveries include identifying the ABCA4 gene's expression in RPE cells, developing innovative "disease-in-a-dish" models using induced pluripotent stem cells, and revealing complement system dysregulation as a common pathological pathway in both STGD1 and AMD. The laboratory is pioneering new approaches by examining retinoid-lipid processing, mitochondrial function, and cellular interactions to identify molecular targets for potential therapeutic interventions.