Dr. Sahil Shah from Stanford University Awarded $90,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant to Research the Role of Kinesin Cargo and Adapter Specificity in Retinal Dystrophies

Dr. Sahil Shah from the Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California was awarded a $90,000 grant for the research entitled: Role of kinesin cargo and adapter specificity in retinal dystrophies.

Visual information from the world is first detected by cells in the retina, a photosensitive layer in the back of the eye. It is then converted into electrical signals and transmitted through the optic nerve to the rest of the brain by retinal ganglion cells. These cells have long extensions, and transport of molecules through the entirety of the cells to their connections in the brain is vital for survival. When this transport is disturbed, this crucial link is disrupted leading to blindness or vision loss. Although Dr. Shah knows the importance of this transport, and has identified some candidates for regenerative therapy, he does not yet have a good understanding of the exact cargoes being transported. By deciphering this network of cellular transport, he can target specific molecules to restore normal function and preserve vision in pediatric eye diseases.