Research Faculty

Wei Wang, M.D., Ph.D.

Instructor of Ophthalmology
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Kentucky Lions Eye Center

CONTACT INFORMATION:

301 E. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville KY 40202
Telephone: 502-852-0733 Fax: 502-852-0691
E-mail: wei.wang@louisville.edu

EDUCATION:

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Retinal degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, are a major cause of human blindness. Although promising therapies have arrived and are being explored, the ability to replace damaged retinal tissue has not been achieved and many patients will need such interventions to recover or prevent the loss of vision. My research is focused on retinal regeneration using cell-based therapies (e.g. stems cells) or drug therapy.

We utilize various models of retinal degeneration and/or damage in species as small as mice and as large as pigs. Our most recent studies have involved the subretinal transplantation of embryonic retinal progenitor cells or induced PSC (pluripotent stem cells) in a minature swine model of the most common form of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa – the Pro23His mutation of rhodopsin. Our evaluation techniques include clinical examination, retinal imaging, histology (light microscopy and immunohistology), electrophysiology (full-field ERG and multifocal ERG) and visual behavioral testing.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Wang W, Dean DC, Kaplan HJ. Age-related Macular Degeneration. Discov Med. 2010 Jan;9(44):13-5. PMID: 20102679
2. Liu Y, Xin Y, Ye F, Wang W, Lu Q, Kaplan HJ, Dean DC. Taz-Tead1 links cell-cell contact to Zab1 expression, proliferation, dedifferentiation in retinal pigmented epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Jul;51(7):3372-8. Epub 2010 Mar 5. PMID: 20207963
3. Liu Y, Gao L, Zuba-Surma EK, Peng X, Kucia M, Ratajczak MZ, Wang W, Enzmann V, Kaplan HJ, Dean DC. Identification of small Sca-1(+), Lin(-), CD45(-) multipotential cells in the neonatal murine retina. Exp Hematol. 2009 Sep;37(9):1096-107, 1107.e1. Epub 2009 Jun 17. PMID: 19539690
4. Fan W, Li X, Wang W, Mo JS, Kaplan H, Cooper NG. Early Involvement of Immune/Inflammatory Response Genes in Retinal Degeneration in DBA/2J Mice. Ophthalmol Eye Dis. 2010 Mar 11;1:23-41. PMID: 20352036
5. Mo JS, Wang W, Kaplan HJ. Impact of inflammation on ocular immune privilege. Chem Immunol Allergy. 2007;92:155-65. PMID: 17264491
6. Hu W, Wang W, Gao H, Zhong J, Yao W, Lee WH, Ye P, Qiao X. Lack of spontaneous ocular neovascularization and attenuated laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in IGF-I overexpression transgenic mice. Vision Res. 2007 Mar;47(6):776-82. Epub 2007 Feb 1. PMID: 17275062
7. Dong X, Wang W, Xie L, Chiu AM. Long-term outcome of combined penetrating keratoplasty and vitreoretinal surgery using temporary keratoprosthesis. Eye. 20 (1); 59-63, 2006. PMID: 15688054
8. Wang W, Xie LX, Dong XG, Zang XJ. Transfer of endostatin gene for inhibition of retinal angiogenesis in mice. Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 42(2):111-5, 2006. PMID: 16643724
9. Niu XG, Wang W, Shi WY, Xie LX. [Inhibition of corneal neovascularization by liposomes mediated plasmid encoding human endostatin.] Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2005 Mar;41(3):260-4. PMID: 15840371
10. Wang W, Niu XG, Xie LX, Dong XG. [Liposomes mediated plasmids encoding human endostatin inhibits endothelial cell proliferation] Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2004 May;40(5):321-5. PMID: 15312627
11. Yan XR, Dong XG, Chen N, Wang W. [Antiproliferative effect of sustained drug delivery system of all-trans retinoic acid implant into rabbit's vitreous cavity for treatment of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.] Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi. 2003 Oct;39(10):621-5. PMID: 14766078