University of Kentucky · BiologyMorris Retinal Lab
Ann C Morris · Lexington, Kentucky
Research Focus
Dr. Ann C. Morris's lab at the University of Kentucky specializes in studying the CHD7 gene, which is critical for proper eye development. By investigating how CHD7 influences retinal cell differentiation, the lab aims to understand the genetic basis of ocular defects like coloboma and the broader implications for congenital disorders such as CHARGE syndrome. Their research combines genetic models, advanced imaging, and transcriptomic analyses.
CHD7retinal developmentchromatin remodelingocular defectsCHARGE syndromegene expressionzebrafish modelsphotoreceptor differentiation
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the role of CHD7 in retinal cell development.
AIM 02Determine the effects of CHD7 mutation on photoreceptor differentiation.
AIM 03Characterize gene expression changes associated with CHD7 activity.
AIM 04Study the molecular mechanisms underlying ocular defects resulting from CHD7 variants.
Skills the Lab Values
zebrafish geneticsmouse modelschromatin immunoprecipitationATAC-seqconfocal microscopyRNA sequencinghuman retinal organoidscell cultureepigenetic analysistranscriptional assays
Output against the department
Publications114bottom 40% of dept.616th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.6kbottom 10% of dept.927th of 1,033
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.