Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans · Neuroscience

Bazan Neuroprotection Lab

Nicolas G. Bazan · New Orleans, Louisiana

Research Focus

Dr. Nicolas G. Bazan's lab at LSU Health Sciences Center focuses on understanding how photoreceptor cells in the retina maintain their integrity and function over time, particularly in the context of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The research aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which essential fatty acids, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its derivatives, protect retinal cells from damage. By exploring these cellular processes, the lab hopes to inform new therapeutic approaches for AMD, which is a leading cause of blindness in older adults.

photoreceptor cellsretinal pigment epitheliumage-related macular degenerationdocosahexaenoic acidlipid mediatorsneuroprotectionepigenetic modulationgene expressioncell integrity

Research Aims

AIM 01Investigate the impaired metabolism of DHA in photoreceptor cells in AMD.

AIM 02Explore how elovanoids target specific receptors to protect retinal cells.

AIM 03Identify gene clusters that modulate integrity and resilience of retinal cells in response to lipid mediators.

Skills the Lab Values

cell cultureretinal cell assaysmolecular biology techniquesgene expression analysisepigenetic assaysanimal modelsWestern blottingflow cytometrysingle-cell genomics

Output against the department

Publications909top 4% of dept.29th of 671

this lab

most publishedleast published

Citations47ktop 7% of dept.49th of 671

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.