Elias Mullane Delivers an Outstanding Scientific Presentation

Elias Mullane Delivers an Outstanding Scientific Presentation

Third year medical student Elias Mullane from the UConn School of Medicine presented his research capstone project at the Annual Neuroscience Retreat that was held at the Mark Twain house and Museum. Elias is conducting research in the Mohan lab in the neuroscience department studying how Muller glia become activated in a genetic mouse model of the human blinding disease Leber congenital amaurosis. He has discovered that an important posttranslational modification known as citrullination is activated in Muller glia and is associated with retinal fibrosis in a manner similar to that the Mohan lab has found in a mouse model and human retinae from age-related macular degeneration subjects. The discovery of this common disease pathway and a potential druggable target is very promising. Elias was awarded the commendation of Outstanding Scientific Presentation for his scientific poster.