University of Southern California · PhysiologyPhototransduction and Calcium Dynamics Unit
Jeannie Chen · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
Dr. Jeannie Chen's lab at the University of Southern California studies how phototransduction works in healthy and diseased states, particularly focusing on the balance of calcium and cyclic GMP within photoreceptor cells in the retina. By using advanced imaging techniques and mouse models, the lab investigates how disruptions in calcium homeostasis can lead to cell death and retinal degenerations such as retinitis pigmentosa. This research is important for developing treatments for various forms of blindness associated with phototransduction failures.
phototransductioncalcium homeostasisretinal degenerationmouse modelsfluorescence imagingretinitis pigmentosacell deathmitochondrial stressgenetically encoded calcium indicators
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how altered calcium levels in photoreceptor cells affect cell death processes.
AIM 02Examine the relationship between cyclic GMP and calcium homeostasis during phototransduction.
AIM 03Utilize advanced imaging techniques to visualize calcium dynamics in retinal cells.
AIM 04Explore the mechanisms by which genetic mutations lead to retinal degeneration.
AIM 05Develop insights into potential therapeutic approaches for vision disorders.
Skills the Lab Values
fluorescence microscopymouse modelscalcium imagingmultiphoton microscopygenetic engineeringexperimental designdata analysisvisualization techniquesmolecular biology
Output against the department
Publications127bottom 40% of dept.170th of 286
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations7.1ktop 47% of dept.133rd of 286
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.