Scientists

David Pepperberg, PhD Searls-Schenk Professor of Ophthalmology Director, Photoreceptor Research Laboratory

In the News: Seeing Is Believing - Nanotechnology:engineering molecular devices to restore vision - Article in the UIC Medicine Magazine Winter 2007

Research Interests

Mechanisms of light and dark adaptation in rod photoreceptors; development of bioengineered structures for interaction with post-synaptic membrane receptors in the retina

Education

• PhD, Biophysics 1973 M.I.T., Cambridge, MA

• BS, Physics 1966 M.I.T., Cambridge, MA

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow Laboratory of Dr. John E. Dowling 1973 - 76 The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University Cambridge, MA

• Postdoc Vision Physiology 1973 - 76 Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

• NIH Predoctoral Trainee in Biophysics
  Ph.D. Thesis Supervisor: Dr. G. M. Brown

UIC Appointments

1992 - present Research Professor Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Photoreceptor Research Laboratory

Representative Publications

Silva GA, Hetling JR & Pepperberg DR (2001) Dynamic and steady-state light adaptation of mouse rod photoreceptors in vivo . Journal of Physiology 534:203-216.

Kang Derwent JJ, Qtaishat NM & Pepperberg DR (2002) Excitation and desensitization of mouse rod photoreceptors in vivo following bright adapting light. Journal of Physiology 541:201-218.

Qtaishat NM, Redmond TM & Pepperberg DR (2003) Acute radiolabeling of retinoids in eye tissues of normal and Rpe65 -deficient mice. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 44:1435-1446.

Saifuddin U, Vu TQ, Rezac M, Qian H, Pepperberg DR & Desai TA (2003) Assembly and characterization of biofunctional neurotransmitter-immobilized surfaces for interaction with post-synaptic membrane receptors. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 66A:184-191.