Name: Dr. Orson L Moritz

Position: Professor

Research Description:

We use transgenic X. laevis to model retinitis pigmentosa and similar disorders in transgenic X. laevis.  We are also investigating mechanisms underlying targeting and transport of rhodopsin and other proteins to sensory cilia.
We study rod and cone photoreceptors, the light-sensitive cells of the retina responsible for vision, and how these cells work, and why they die in inherited retinal degenerative disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy and macular degeneration, to develop drug and gene therapy-based treatments. We also study how environmental conditions, such as light exposure and vitamin A, influence these disorders.

Disease Research Areas/Interest:

cone-rod dystrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration

Contact Information

Address:
Dept of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of British Columbia
2550 Willow Street
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 3N9, Canada

Email: olmoritz@mail.ubc.ca
Web Page: http://www.vchri.ca/researchers/orson-moritz
Phone:  604-875-4357
Fax:  860-875-4663