Research Groups

CellSight brings together several accomplished research groups, each with a specific area of expertise that defines their core competencies while complementing the expertise of the other groups. This diversity within the unity of the program puts us in a unique position to tackle complex and ambitious projects with high clinical impact.

Our Research Groups

3DRet Laboratory

Director: Valeria Canto-Solar, PhD

The 3DRet Lab's research focuses on leveraging the unique characteristics of 3D retinal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) to unveil normal and disease mechanisms involved in retinal cell specification, differentiation, maturation and function. 

ExoSight Laboratory

Director: Miguel Flores-Bellver, PhD

The ExoSight Laboratory explores the role of exosomes in age-related macular degeneration and intercellular communication during retinal development.

Laboratory of Developmental Genetics

Director: Joseph Brzezinski, IV, PhD

The Laboratory of Developmental Genetics uses cutting edge technology to study the genetic pathways that regulate retinal development.

Ocular Development and Translational Technologies Laboratory

Director: Natalia Vergara, PhD

The Ocular Development and Translational Technologies Laboratory uses a combination of traditional developmental animal models and state-of-the-art 3-D retinal organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, to investigate the mechanisms that drive vertebrate eye development and regeneration, as well as the pathological changes that alter this equilibrium in inherited retinal diseases leading to vision loss. 

Laboratory of Advanced Ophthalmic Surgery

Director: Marc Mathias, MD

The Laboratory of Advanced Ophthalmic Surgery is working to develop pre-clinical models of retinal disease, novel surgical devices and state-of-the-art surgical techniques to deliver cell-based therapeutics to restore visual function.