Assistant Director Animal Care and Operations

The Byrne Lab (https://www.byrnelab.science/join) within the Ophthalmology Department in the University of Pittsburgh, develops gene therapies for retinal disease, including a diverse group of blinding disorders that have a profound impact on the quality of life of patients. There are currently no effective treatments for most forms of inherited retinal degeneration. However, gene therapy, in which therapeutic genetic material is transferred to cells, is a highly promising approach to treating retinal disease. The Byrne lab is exploring gene augmentation, optogenetics, and genome editing approaches to treat inherited and age-related forms of blindness. The lab is located in the newly opened Mercy Pavilion, in uptown Pittsburgh.