ASHLAND — A $300,000 grant has been awarded to Ashland University biologist Mason Posner by the National Eye Institute.
The money will fund research his lab will conduct on zebrafish — to better understand how the eye’s lens develops and how cataracts can be prevented.
“These research experiences are an important part of these students’ science training, helping them to obtain laboratory-based employment after graduation,” Posner said.
“(It also aids in) entrance to master’s and Ph. D. programs and acceptance to health-related professional programs like medical and physician assistant schools.”
The university said in a press release that Posner’s research has focused on developing the zebrafish lens as a model organism for studying human eye development.
The zebrafish is a small tropical fish that is known for its transparent eye, which is similar to the human eye.
The researchers believe that the zebrafish lens can be used to study how new genes play a role in regulating eye lens development.
The cataract is the leading cause of human blindness, the university said.
Researchers believe that by understanding how the lens can cause cataracts, they may be able to develop new prevention and treatment methods.
The research team will use a number of different techniques, including genome manipulation, molecular biology, and cell visualization.
The team is made up of undergraduate students who have been mentored by Posner.