Of interest to

Jennifer J. Kang Derwent, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Illinois Institute of Technology Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Science and Engineering       10 West 32nd Street Engineering 1, Room 116 Chicago, IL  60616-3793 Phone:(312) 567 3860 Fax: (312) 567 5707  Email: derwent@iit.edu

Education:

B.A., Mathematics, Northwestern University
M.S., Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University
Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University
Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois at Chicago

Research Interests:

The primary research interest in Dr. Kang Derwent’s Retinal Vascular Research Laboratory is the study of occlusive vascular disease in the mammalian retina. Retinal vascular disease is a major cause of blindness and often is associated with systemic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. The major research focus is an in-depth study of thrombosis and its effect on different retinal cell types and on retinal blood flow using both experimental animal models and quantitative/computational models. It is anticipated that integrating the experimental findings on visual function with the blood flow studies will lead to potential clinical treatments.

We have recently begun an investigation into possible retinal cell rescue and/or replacement therapy. Photoreceptor degeneration is often a cause of blinding diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Currently there is no effective therapy for these diseases. Our goal is to rescue or replace the degenerated photoreceptors through the use of healthy cultured cells.

Current Projects Include:

1. Effects of thrombotic retinal occlusion on visual function
2. Retinal blood flow measurements
3. Computational models of retinal blood flow
4. Retinal cell rescue/replacement therapy
5. Clinical ERG recordings

Affiliations:

Member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Member of the Biomedical Engineering Society
Member of the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision

Publications:

Kang Derwent, J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2000) Effects of hypoxemia on the a- and b-waves of the electroretinogram in the cat retina.Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 41(10): 3634-3642.

Kang Derwent, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2001) Intraretinal analysis of the a-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG) in dark-adapted intact cat retina.Visual Neuroscience 18(3): 353-363.

Kang Derwent, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (2001) Hypoglycemia increases the sensitivity of the cat electroretinogram to hypoxemia.Visual Neuroscience 18(6): 983-993.

Kang Derwent, J.J., Qtaishat, N.M.and Pepperberg, D.R.(2002) Excitation and desensitization of mouse rod photoreceptors in vivo following bright adapting light.Journal of Physiology 541.1: 201-218.

Conference Abstracts:

Kang, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (1998) Effects of hypoxemia on the a- and b-waves of the electroretinogram (ERG) in dark-adapted cat retina. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 39(4): S977 Abst Nr 4515. Presented at Annual Meeting of Association Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Kang, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (1998) Effects of changes in blood glucose level on the electroretinogram (ERG) during hypoxemia in dark-adapted cat retina. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 26(1): S102 Abst Nr NE64. Presented at Annual Meeting of Biomedical Engineering Society.

Kang, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (1998) Effects of hypoglycemia and hypoxemia on a- and b-waves of electroretinograms (ERG) in dark-adapted cat retina.Society for Neuroscience 24(2): 1873 Abst Nr 744.6. Presented at Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience.

Kang, J.J. and Linsenmeier, R.A. (1999) Analysis of intraretinal a- and b-waves of the electroretinogram (ERG) using pharmacological agents in dark-adapted intact cat retina.Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 40(4): S14 Abst Nr 74. Presented at Annual Meeting of Association Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Kang Derwent, J., Linsenmeier, R.A., Padnick-Silver, L. and Narfström, K.(2000) Analysis of the a-wave of the electroretinogram in Abyssinian cats with hereditary retinal degeneration.Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 41(4): S242 Abst Nr 1268. Presented at Annual Meeting of Association Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Linsenmeier, R.A., Padnick-Silver, L., Kang Derwent, J., Ramirez, U. and Narfström, K. (2000) Changes in photoreceptor oxidative metabolism in Abyssinian cats with a hereditary rod-cone degeneration.Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 41(4): S887 Abst Nr 4721. Presented at Annual Meeting of Association Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Kang Derwent, J.J., Qtaishat, N.M. and Pepperberg, D.R.(2001) Dark adaptation in mouse rod photoreceptors measured in vivo by paired-flash electroretinography.Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 42(4): S369 Abst Nr 1991. Presented at Annual Meeting of Association Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Pepperberg, D.R., Kang Derwent, J.J., Grover, S., Hetling, J.R., Birch, D.G., Stone, E.M., and Fishman, G.A.(2001) Rod recovery from a weak bleaching flash in normals, and in patients with Stargardt disease and an ABCR mutation.Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 42(4): S784 Abst Nr 4203. Presented at Annual Meeting of Association Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Kang Derwent, J.J. and Pepperberg, D.R.(2001) Photoreceptor sensitivity measured in vivo by paired-flash electroretinography after adapting light.Annals of Biomedical Engineering 29(1): S126 Abst Nr NE10.1. Presented at Annual Meeting of Biomedical Engineering Society.