Kira L. Lathrop, MAMS, PhD

As Co-Director of the Core Imaging Module I am privileged to work with most of the basic science researchers in the department. Some of these interactions are directed toward training lab members so they can conduct their own experiments, acquire and analyze their images. In other instances, I become more closely involved in projects that involve more complicated problems requiring construction of custom analysis protocols and data collection. Working with such a wide variety of investigators gives me the opportunity to address a wide range of imaging challenges on different scales, with different models and using different imaging techniques.    

With the support of my colleagues and our Chairman, my research has focused on visualizing the palisades of Vogt. In 2012 we demonstrated that this area can be visualized with optical coherence tomography. The palisades of Vogt form the corneal epithelial stem cell niche, a fibrovascular ridge found predominantly in the superior and inferior limbus. Without this region the eye is not able to maintain the constant renewal of the epithelium, which can lead to serious conditions like limbal stem cell disease and keratopathy. The goal of this research is to facilitate clinical management and tracking of patients with corneal epithelial stem cell disease and limbal depletion. This work has directly affected the surgical pathways of several pediatric and adult patients and has produced five peer-reviewed papers, several foundation grants, and four patents.

A Conversation with Dr. Lathrop

Academic Affiliations

2014-Present: Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Swanson School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
2012-2014: Research Instructor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Swanson School of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering
2010-2012: Research Instructor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology 
2004-2010: Senior Research Specialist, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
2000-2004: Research Data Analyst, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry Center for Cognitive Medicine
1998-2001: Senior Research Specialist, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
1997-1998: Project Coordinator, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
1995-1997: Research Assistant, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Biomedical Visuali