Principal Investigator
Research Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Publications
Contact Information
UPMC Vision Institute
UPMC Mercy Pavilion
1622 Locust Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Gary.yam@pitt.edu
Gary.yam@upmc.edu
Lab Personnel
Mithun Santra, PhD Post-doctoral Associate
Elizabeth Rubin, Student Researcher
Christine Chandran, Student Researcher
Research Focus
Our research focuses on the biological processes in maintaining the unique stromal tissue structure and functions and the pathological changes during injury, wound healing, scarring, and diseases. We explore new designs to reverse the scarring process or replace the scarred cornea with bioengineered corneal tissue. Our lab has reported cell-based treatment with stromal keratocytes and stromal stem cells to restore corneal transparency. From our preclinical corneal injury models, the treatments produce tissue resembling the transparent stroma. In collaboration with the GMP culture facility of Immunologic Monitoring & Cellular Products Lab (IMCPL), Hillman Cancer Centre, UPMC, we established GMP-compliant Standard Operating Procedures for clinical-grade stem cell culture and quality control assays and methods to predict the anti-scarring potency of stromal stem cells. Our team recently received the National Institute of Health (NIH) Regenerative Medicine Innovative Project U01 award: EY035252 (9/2023-9/2025) to support a scale-up cGMP manufacturing of corneal stromal stem cells and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls) studies. This project will provide crucial data to prepare for FDA-IND application and clinical trials. We are also investigating the mechanisms by which the stem cells induce tissue regeneration, including exosomes, cytokines, and microRNAs, and reducing pre-existing opacities.