University of Missouri – Columbia (MU)
Dr. Hu Huang’s primary focus involves the study of the retina (a metabolically active tissue that senses light). Dysregulation of metabolism results in retinal cell dysfunction and miscommunication, subsequent cell death and vision loss. Dr. Huang, PhD, is investigating retinal cell metabolism and communication, as well as their abnormalities in retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Huang is also investigating chemokine regulation of immune cell (e.g., microglia and macrophage) activation and migration to the outer retina (photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium). This research is relevant to pathological conditions such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.