Paul A. Yates
- Email: pay2x@virginia.edu
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Ophthalmology
Education
- BS, Electrical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University
- MD, Medicine, University of California, San Diego
- PhD, Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
Research Disciplines
Biotechnology, Cardiovascular Biology, Neuroscience
Research Interests
Development and regulation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and blood vessels as they relate to retinal diseases.
Research Description
We are interested in the growth, branching and arbor remodeling of RGC neurons, which connect the eye to the brain. What starts as a disorganized set of connections from RGCs to their target, the superior colliculus, reorganizes over the course of development into a highly specific two dimensional retinotopic map that recapitulates the two dimensional spatial arrangement of the RGCs in the retina. Ongoing projects are studying how Ephrin-A dependent RGC axon-axon inhibition plays a role in determining arbor location and size within the map, how competition for space determines initial and final branching patterns on the axon, and the role of axonal degeneration through the DR6 receptor and cell death in shaping the final map. Our hope is that understanding how topographic patterning of retinal axons occurs will one day permit successful eye transplantation.
Aberrant growth of blood vessels leads to many eye diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. We are interested in creating new approaches for treatment of these blinding diseases through projects that investigate stem cell therapies for repairing damaged blood vessels and creating novel light activated drugs to focally treat retinal vasculopathies. Basic research in the lab is also examining potential similarities in the mechanisms and molecules that control vascular and axonal branching by determining the role of Ephrins and VEGF in blood vessel growth at the level of the capillary sprout within the retinal micro-vascular network.
Personal Statement
We are interested in the growth, branching and arbor remodeling of RGC neurons, which connect the eye to the brain. What starts as a disorganized set of connections from RGCs to their target, the superior colliculus, reorganizes over the course of development into a highly specific two dimensional retinotopic map that recapitulates the two dimensional spatial arrangement of the RGCs in the retina. Ongoing projects are studying how Ephrin-A dependent RGC axon-axon inhibition plays a role in determining arbor location and size within the map, how competition for space determines initial and final branching patterns on the axon, and the role of axonal degeneration through the DR6 receptor and cell death in shaping the final map. Our hope is that understanding how topographic patterning of retinal axons occurs will one day permit successful eye transplantation.
Aberrant growth of blood vessels lead to many eye diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. We are interested in creating new approaches for treatment of these blinding diseases through projects that investigate stem cell therapies for repairing damaged blood vessels and creating novel light activated drugs to focally treat retinal vasculopathies. Basic research in the lab is also examining potential similarities in the mechanisms and molecules that control vascular and axonal branching by determining the role of Ephrins and VEGF in blood vessel growth at the level of the capillary sprout within the retinal micro-vascular network.
Selected Publications
2020
Corliss, B. A., Doty, R. W., Mathews, C., Yates, P. A., Zhang, T., & Peirce, S. M. (2020). REAVER: A program for improved analysis of high-resolution vascular network images. MICROCIRCULATION, 27(5). doi:10.1111/micc.12618
Ray, H. C., Corliss, B. A., Bruce, A. C., Kesting, S., Dey, P., Mansour, J., . . . Yates, P. A. (2020). Myh11+microvascular mural cells and derived mesenchymal stem cells promote retinal fibrosis. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 10(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72875-x
Yates, P. A., Newman, S. A., Oshry, L. J., Glassman, R. H., Leone, A. M., & Reichel, E. (2020). Doxycycline treatment of high-risk COVID-19-positive patients with comorbid pulmonary disease. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN RESPIRATORY DISEASE, 14. doi:10.1177/1753466620951053
Corliss, B. A., Ray, H. C., Doty, R. W., Mathews, C., Sheybani, N., Fitzgerald, K., . . . Peirce, S. M. (2020). Pericyte Bridges in Homeostasis and Hyperglycemia. DIABETES, 69(7), 1503-1517. doi:10.2337/db19-0471
2019
Corliss, B. A., Ray, H. C., Patrie, J. T., Mansour, J., Kesting, S., Park, J. H., . . . Peirce, S. M. (2019). CIRCOAST: a statistical hypothesis test for cellular colocalization with network structures (vol 35, pg 506, 2019). BIOINFORMATICS, 35(4), 720-721. doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/bty797
Corliss, B. A., Ray, H. C., Mathews, C., Fitzgerald, K., Doty, R. W., Smolko, C. M., . . . Yates, P. A. (2019). Myh11 Lineage Corneal Endothelial Cells and ASCs Populate Corneal Endothelium. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 60(15), 5095-5103. doi:10.1167/iovs.19-27276
2017
Chakravarthy, U., Bailey, C., Brown, D., Campochiaro, P., Chittum, M., Csaky, K., . . . Schwab, D. (2017). Phase I Trial of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/Anti-angiopoietin 2 Bispecific Antibody RG7716 for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration. OPHTHALMOLOGY RETINA, 1(6), 474-485. doi:10.1016/j.oret.2017.03.003
Kelly-Goss, M. R., Ning, B., Bruce, A. C., Tavakol, D. N., Yi, D., Hu, S., . . . Peirce, S. M. (2017). Dynamic, heterogeneous endothelial Tie2 expression and capillary blood flow during microvascular remodeling. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 7. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-08982-z
2016
Sohn, M. -W., Kang, H., Park, J. S., Yates, P., McCall, A., Stukenborg, G., . . . Lobo, J. M. (2016). Disparities in recommended preventive care usage among persons living with diabetes in the Appalachian region. BMJ OPEN DIABETES RESEARCH & CARE, 4(1). doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2016-000284
2015
Cronk, S. M., Kelly-Goss, M. R., Ray, H. C., Mendel, T. A., Hoehn, K. L., Bruce, A. C., . . . Yates, P. A. (2015). Adipose-Derived Stem Cells From Diabetic Mice Show Impaired Vascular Stabilization in a Murine Model of Diabetic Retinopathy. STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, 4(5), 459-467. doi:10.5966/sctm.2014-0108
2013
Mendel, T. A., Clabough, E. B. D., Kao, D. S., Demidova-Rice, T. N., Durham, J. T., Zotter, B. C., . . . Yates, P. A. (2013). Pericytes Derived from Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Protect against Retinal Vasculopathy. PLOS ONE, 8(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065691
2012
Taylor, A. C., Mendel, T. A., Mason, K. E., Degen, K. E., Yates, P. A., & Peirce, S. M. (2012). Attenuation of EphrinB2 Reverse Signaling Decreases Vascularized Area and Preretinal Vascular Tuft Formation in the Murine Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 53(9), 5462-5470. doi:10.1167/iovs.11-8599
Tran, K., Mendel, T. A., Holbrook, K. L., & Yates, P. A. (2012). Construction of an Inexpensive, Hand-Held Fundus Camera through Modification of a Consumer "Point-and-Shoot" Camera. INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE, 53(12), 7600-7607. doi:10.1167/iovs.12-10449
2010
Taylor, A. C., Seltz, L. M., Yates, P. A., & Peirce, S. M. (2010). Chronic whole-body hypoxia induces intussusceptive angiogenesis and microvascular remodeling in the mouse retina. MICROVASCULAR RESEARCH, 79(2), 93-101. doi:10.1016/j.mvr.2010.01.006