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Gülgün Tezel, M.D."I think the scientific environment of this department opens up so many new possibilities for collaborative research. A background as a clinician facilitates a better understanding of the clinical relevance and underlying benefits of experimental research findings. I believe that in such a supportive environment, the quality and pace of bench-to-bed research can increase further." |
Combining the patient-focused experience of a medical practitioner with the intense technical expertise of a research scientist, Dr. Tezel investigates new treatment options for one of the leading causes of blindness throughout the world. Gülgün Tezel obtained her medical degree and completed ophthalmology residency in Turkey. Throughout her 10-year clinical practice as a glaucoma scientist, she saw that, despite her best efforts to lower intraocular pressure, in many patients the disease continued to progress. She has been deeply committed to helping patients avoid this fate through alternative and enhanced strategies to treat glaucoma. Only through a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of glaucoma will improved and innovative treatments evolve. This led her to leave her clinical practice to join the research team at Washington University in St. Louis. Following a glaucoma research fellowship, she joined the faculty at the same department. Dr. Tezel has then established her laboratory at the University of Louisville. She has developed new theories and brought new insights into the molecular mechanisms and treatment possibilities for glaucoma. Her accomplishments resulted in the publication of many scientific papers. She is a recipient of the Research to Prevent Blindness Sybil B. Harrington Scholars Award and the World Glaucoma Association Potential Future Impact Award.
Current Position
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Department of Anatomical Sciences & Neurobiology On Staff since 2002
Research Specialties
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Degeneration
Neurobiology and Proteomics of Retinal Ganglion Cells
Retinal Ganglion Cell/Glia Interactions
Neuroprotection in Glaucoma
Contact Information
gulgun.tezel@louisville.edu
University of Louisville
Dept. Of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
301 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 852-7395 (office)
(502) 852-1215 and 852-2750 (labs)
(502) 852-3811 (fax)
Current Grants
Principal Investigator: National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD (R01 EY013813) TNF-alpha in Cell Death & Neuroprotection in Glaucoma (8/1/2003-7/31/2012)
Principal Investigator: National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD (R01 EY017131) Proteomic Analysis of Retinal Ganglion Cell Death in Glaucoma (12/1/2007-11/30/2010)
Select Publications
Tezel G, Wax MB. Increased production of TNF-a by glial cells exposed to simulated ischemia or elevated hydrostatic pressure induces apoptosis in co-cultured retinal ganglion cells. J Neurosci. 2000;20:8693-8700.
Tezel G, Hernandez MR, Wax MB. In vitro evaluation of reactive astrocyte migration, a component of tissue remodeling in glaucomatous optic nerve head. Glia. 2001;34:178-189.
Tezel G, Siegmund KD, Trinkaus K, Wax MB, Kass MA, Kolker AE. Clinical factors associated with progression of glaucomatous optic disc damage in treated patients. Arch Ophthalmol. 2001;119:813-818.
Tezel G, Li LY, Patil RV, Wax MB. Tumor necrosis factor-a and its receptor-1 in the retina of normal and glaucomatous eyes. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2001;42:1787-1794.
Tezel G, Chauhan BC, LeBlanc RP, Wax MB. Immunohistochemical assessment of the glial mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003;44:3025-3033.
Tezel G, Yang X, Yang J, Wax MB. Role of tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 in the death of retinal ganglion cells following optic nerve crush injury in mice. Brain Res. 2004;996:202-212.
Tezel G, Wax MB. Increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in the glaucomatous retina and optic nerve head. Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:1348-1356.
Tezel G, Yang X. Caspase-independent component of retinal ganglion cell death, in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004;45:4049-4059.
Tezel G, Yang X. Comparative gene array analysis of TNF-a -induced MAPK and NF-kB signaling pathways between retinal ganglion cells and glial cells. Exp Eye Res. 2005;81:207-217.
Tezel G, Yang X, Cai J. Proteomic identification of oxidatively modified retinal proteins in a chronic pressure-induced rat model of glaucoma . Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2005;46:3177-3187.
Tezel G. Oxidative stress in glaucomatous neurodegeneration: Mechanisms and consequences. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2006;25:490-513.
Yang X, Luo C, Cai J, Pierce WM, Tezel G. Phosphorylation-dependent interaction with 14-3-3 regulates Bad trafficking in retinal ganglion cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49:2483-2494.
Education
Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey, 1977-1983
Hacettepe University Hospitals, Ankara, Turkey, Internship, 1982-1983
Department of Ophthalmology, Numune Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, Residency, 1986-1989
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, Visiting Fellowship in Glaucoma Research, 1994-1996
Professional Societies and Affiliations
American Academy of Ophthalmology, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.