Dr. Hegde is available to participate in events within the community that focus on vision health or other health education topics. To request Dr. Hegde present at an organization or community event, please email khegde@coppin.edu.
Research Collaboration with University of Maryland School of Medicine
Dr. Kavita Hegde is working on a collaborative research project with Dr. Richard Thompson, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine. The project involves detection of sub-RPE hydroxyapatite deposits, the putative early markers of age-related macular degeneration, using fluorescence techniques.
Research Collaboration with University of Maryland School of Medicine
Dr. Kavita Hegde is working on a collaborative research project with Dr. Richard Thompson, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine. The project involves detection of sub-RPE hydroxyapatite deposits, the putative early markers of age-related macular degeneration, using fluorescence techniques.
Research poster titled "Modulation of catalase activity in neural retina by ROS exposure: effect of caffeine" presented by Rebekka Hauri (left) and Miajavon Coleman (right) at Morgan State University Undergraduate Research Conference in April 2022
Research poster titled "Modulation of catalase activity in neural retina by ROS exposure: effect of caffeine" presented by Rebekka Hauri (left) and Miajavon Coleman (right) at Morgan State University Undergraduate Research Conference in April 2022
Since the establishment of this lab, several students have received hands-on biomedical research experience.
2019-2020 Esha Saxena, Abhinav Bala, Sriram Vema, Soorya Swaminathan
Since the establishment of this lab, several students have received hands-on biomedical research experience.
2019-2020 Esha Saxena, Abhinav Bala, Sriram Vema, Soorya Swaminathan
Ophthalmic Research Laboratory (ORL), established in Fall 2015 by Dr. Hegde, is a biomedical research hub with a focus on ocular tissues, at Coppin State University. Research is focused on investigations on the mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced aberrations in the retina, a crucial factor involved in the pathogenesis of several blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), etc. Retinas exposed to ROS are analyzed for biochemical and metabolic dysfunction, morphological disruption, apoptotic cell death and other biomarkers of oxidative stress. An important goal of the research is to investigate the changes in expression of Nrf2-inducible genes in the ROS-exposed neural retina and their possible modulation by nutraceuticals and metabolic antioxidants. The overall impact of the research is translational, considering the potential therapeutic use of such compounds with a neuroprotective role for prevention and treatment of DR and AMD. Collaborative projects with University of Maryland School of Medicine focused on development of fluorescence methods for pre-clinical detection of AMD are also in progress.
In addition to routine instrumentation required for tissue culture and biochemical experiments, the lab is equipped with a thermocycler, multimode plate reader (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, and DNA/RNA quantification capabilities,), and fluorescence microscope. ORL has undergraduate and graduate students working in the lab, in addition to high school students interning during the summer.
Students in this lab will be able to independently run biochemical assays and state-of-the-art molecular biotechnology experiments using the above lab equipment, perform eye dissection and learn tissue culture techniques. They will learn to maintain lab books with detailed write-up of their experiments, methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation, write lab/research reports, and prepare and present their research at lab meetings, seminars and conferences.
Ophthalmic Research Laboratory (ORL), established in Fall 2015 by Dr. Hegde, is a biomedical research hub with a focus on ocular tissues, at Coppin State University. Research is focused on investigations on the mechanisms of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced aberrations in the retina, a crucial factor involved in the pathogenesis of several blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), etc. Retinas exposed to ROS are analyzed for biochemical and metabolic dysfunction, morphological disruption, apoptotic cell death and other biomarkers of oxidative stress. An important goal of the research is to investigate the changes in expression of Nrf2-inducible genes in the ROS-exposed neural retina and their possible modulation by nutraceuticals and metabolic antioxidants. The overall impact of the research is translational, considering the potential therapeutic use of such compounds with a neuroprotective role for prevention and treatment of DR and AMD. Collaborative projects with University of Maryland School of Medicine focused on development of fluorescence methods for pre-clinical detection of AMD are also in progress.
In addition to routine instrumentation required for tissue culture and biochemical experiments, the lab is equipped with a thermocycler, multimode plate reader (absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, and DNA/RNA quantification capabilities,), and fluorescence microscope. ORL has undergraduate and graduate students working in the lab, in addition to high school students interning during the summer.
Students in this lab will be able to independently run biochemical assays and state-of-the-art molecular biotechnology experiments using the above lab equipment, perform eye dissection and learn tissue culture techniques. They will learn to maintain lab books with detailed write-up of their experiments, methods of data collection, analysis and interpretation, write lab/research reports, and prepare and present their research at lab meetings, seminars and conferences.
The Ophthalmic Research Laboratory offers internship opportunities to high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, high school graduates, and students enrolled at 2 or 4-year colleges and universities.
The internship runs from June 15-August 15 for the summer session and September 1-May 15 for the academic year-long session.
Interested students should apply by May 15 for summer internship, and by August 15 for internship through the academic year.
Decisions will be sent within two weeks of the date you submit your internship application and to the email address you enter in your application.
High School Student Application Undergraduate Student Application
For more information, please contact Dr. Kavita Hegde, Ophthalmic Research Laboratory Director & Lead Investigator, at khegde@coppin.edu.
