PEOPLE

John G Flannery, PhD
Principle Investigator
flannery@berkeley.edu

Meike Visel 
Research Specialist
mvisel@berkeley.edu

My training from Germany is in Medical Laboratory Science. I never worked in a hospital lab though but always in research labs and love it. I find it very exciting to learn about and discover new things.

I have been part of the Flannery Lab since 2005. As the specialist for viral packaging I help and advise anyone in the lab who wants to package Adeno-Associated Virus for their gene therapy studies. I also have an open ear for cloning troubles and help out wherever I can, may it be animal work, immunohistochemistry or dissections. I am also responsible for the day to day lab operations in general.

Scott Geller, PhD, MBM
Research Scientist
Founder, Bay Genomics
drgeller@berkeley.edu

 
My project is focused on discovery, identification and validation of AAV capsids for targeted transgene delivery to human retina. Using non-human primates, we deliver molecules enabling gain-of-function vision for hereditary blindness. Using a combination of vector capsid libraries, transgenes, and promoters, we aim to bring therapeutic molecules to the clinic.

Antónia Stefanov, PhD 
Postdoctoral Scientist
a.stefanov@berkeley.edu

Project title: “Developing and testing AAV vector based optogenetic vision restoration strategies in mouse models of retinal degeneration”
 
I am an expert in retinal immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. I am skilled in rodent ERG, OCT, visual behaviour assessment and virus packaging/purification too.
 
Find more about my work on my ResearchGate!

Emilia Zin, PhD
Postdoctoral Scientist
emilia.zin@berkeley.edu

 

Project titles:

“AAV-mediated RdCVF Neuroprotection of Cones in an Autosomal Dominant P23H Pig Model” and

“Development of Gene Therapy for a Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis Model Caused by Loss of the Protein Progranulin”

 

 

Victoria C Fong, MA
PhD Student, Vision Science 
victoriacfong@berkeley.edu 

Project title: “Targeting AII amacrine cells with AAV and a synthetic promoter for optogenetic stimulation”

It’s important that retinal processing be preserved or restored when treating the damaged retina. My project focuses on targeting a specific type of amacrine cell by investigating the optimal combinations of AAV capsid and promoter to drive amacrine cell-specific light-sensitivity.  My project will involve molecular work, behavioral analyses, and functional characterization.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
unnamed (5)

Lola Takhirov
Molecular & Cell Biology ’21
lolatakhirov99@berkeley.edu 

Kate Li
Chemical Biology ’21
kateyuqingli@berkeley.edu 

ALUMNI
Former PhD Students
Cécile Fortuny, Postdoctoral Scientist, UC Berkeley 
Jonathan Jui, Postdoctoral Scientist, University of Michigan
Cameron Baker, Scientist, Adverum Biotechnologies
Timothy Day, Co-Founder, DNALite Therapeutics
Leah Byrne, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine 
Ryan Klimzack, U.S. Patent Attorney, Director at Mimi Hearing Technologies
Kenneth Greenberg,  Senior Director, Frontier Biology
Kate Kolstad, Physician, Stanford Health Care
Karen Guerin, Director, Vedere Bio
Edwin Lee, Adjunct Professor, Southwestern Community College District
Laura H. Sanftner, Nonclinical Development Director, Plexxikon Inc
Dana Lau, Senior Director, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Eric S. Green, Professor,  Salt Lake Community College
Former Master Student

Janice Y. Lee 

Former Postdoctoral Scientists
Deniz Dalkara, Junior Group Leader, Institut de la Vision Paris
Mervi Kuronen, Senior Medical Science Liason, Novartis
Roya Zolfaghar, Associate Director, Novartis
Angela Bowman, Exec. Director, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
Kristina Sachs
Eeva Sankila
Esin Ozturk
Jasmina Kapetanovic, Clinical Research Fellow, University of Manchester