Jeffrey Gross, PhD

  • E. Ronald Salvitti Chair in Ophthalmology Research
  • Professor of Ophthalmology and Developmental Biology
  • Vice Chair and Director of Research
  • Director, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration
  • Ocular Development, Disease and Regeneration Laboratory
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

A Conversation With Dr. Gross

Academic Affiliation

6/2017- present Vice Chair and Director of Research, Department of Ophthalmology

8/2015- present Professor of Ophthalmology, E. Ronald Salvitti Chair in Ophthalmology Research, Director, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

2015 – Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology & Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin. 

2013 – 2015 Associate Director , Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin

2012 – 2015 Chair of Graduate Studies Committee , Cell and Molecular Biology Program

2011 – 2014 Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology & Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin 

2005 – 2011 Assistant Professor, Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology & Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas at Austin

2002 – 2005 Postdoctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Dr. John E. Dowling, Harvard University. 

1996 – 2002 Doctoral Research, Laboratory of Dr. David R. McClay, Duke University

1993-1996 Undergraduate Research, Laboratory of Dr. Phyllis R. Robinson, University of Maryland – Baltimore County

Education & Training

  • Duke University, Durham, NC, 1996 - 2002, Biology, Ph.D.
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 1992 - 1996, Biological Sciences, B.S. (cum laude with Honors)

Representative Publications

 

  1. Leach LL, George S, Gabriel A and JM Gross “Innate immune system activity is a critical regulator of retinal pigment epithelium regeneration in zebrafish” – PNAS –118(21):e2017198118 (2021)
  2.  George S, Lu F, Rao M, Leach LL and JM Gross “The Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Development, Injury Responses and Regenerative Potential in Mammalian and non-Mammalian Systems” – invited review for Progress in Retina and Eye Research – 100969. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100969 (2021)
  3. Raeisossadati R, Ferrari MFR, Kihara AH, Al Diri I and JM Gross “Epigenetic regulation of retinal development” Epigenetics and Chromatin – 14(1):11 (2021)
  4. Koenig K and JM Gross “Evolution and Development of Complex Eyes: A Celebration of Diversity” – Development – 147: dev182923 doi: 10.1242/dev.182923 (2020)
  5. Angileri K and JM Gross “dnmt1 function is required to maintain retinal stem cells within the ciliary marginal zone of the zebrafish eye” – Scientific Reports – 10(1):11293 (2020)
  6. Sinagoga K, Larimer-Picciani A, George S, Spencer SA, Lister JA and JM Gross “Mitf-family transcription factor function is required within cranial neural crest cells to promote choroid fissure closure” – Development – 147(21):dev187047 (2020)
  7. Hanovice N, Slater  K, Romanovicz D, Shao E, Collery R, Burton EA, Lathrop K, Link BA and JM Gross “Regeneration of the zebrafish retinal pigment epithelium after widespread genetic ablation” – PLoS Genetics – 15(1):e1007939 (2019)
  8. Bernstein CS, Anderson MT, Gohel C, Slater K, Gross JM and S Agarwala “The Cellular bases of choroid fissure formation and closure” – Developmental Biology 440(2):137-151 (2018)
  9. Seritrakul P and JM Gross “Tet-mediated DNA hydroxymethylation regulates retinal neurogenesis in zebrafish” PLoS Genetics (2017) 13(9):e1006987.

Research Interests

Charles & Louella Snyder Ocular Development, Disease & Regeneration Laboratory

Research Grants

National Institutes of Health (RO1-EY29031). “DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation During Retinal Development and Stem Cell Maintenance” Period 4/1/2018 – 3/30/2023. PI - Gross

National Institutes of Health (RO1-EY29410). “Elucidating the Molecular Underpinnings of Endogenous RPE Regeneration” Period 6/1/2019 – 5/30/2024. PI - Gross

National Institutes of Health (T32-EY17271): “Interdisciplinary Visual Sciences Training Program.” Period: 5/1/19 – 4/30/24. PI - Gross

National Institutes of Health (P30-EY08098): “Core Grant for Vision Research”. Period: 4/1/19 – 3/30/24. PI - Gross

National Institutes of Health (R21-EY28272). “Role of RNAi factor DUSP11 in ocular biology and disease” Period: 9/1/2017 – 8/31/20. PI – Sullivan (Gross – co-I). 

UPMC Immune Therapy and Transplant Center Pilot Grant: “Identifying the Role of Immune Cell-Derived Factors in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Regeneration as a Possible Therapeutic Strategy for Age-related Macular Degeneration” Period: 3/1/19 – 2/28/21. PI - Gross

Bright Focus Foundation Glaucoma Research Program: " Identification of novel genes and pathways that protect RGCs from injury-induced death” Period: 9/1/20 - 8/31/22. PI - Gross