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The research in my laboratory aims to study molecular mechanisms of eye development and diseases, particularly about the development of the lens and the retina, cataract formation and retinal degeneration by using genetically engineering mouse models and bioengineering three-dimensional tissue models. Our recent studies address the mechanistic knowledge about why and how connexin mutations and novel genetic modifiers affect the structure and organization of lens fiber cell structures and homeostasis to regulate lens transparency, lens stiffness and age-related cataract development. Our research program has been funded R01 grants by National Eye Institute/NIT since 2000. I have served as a co-director of the gene delivery module of the UC Berkeley vision core grant since 2008 and served on NIH study sections. I was the recipient of National Foundation for Eye Research-Cataract Research Award in 2009.