Dr. Julia Richards

Julia E. Richards, PhD

Professor Emerita, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Professor Emerita, Epidemiology
Office: 734-763-8097

Administrative Contact

Phone: 734-763-3732
Fax: 734-615-0542

Areas of Interest

Research Summary

Genetic research, specializing in glaucoma

The research program of Dr. Julia Richards focuses on the underlying causes of hereditary eye disease. Her research has a long-term emphasis on the group of diseases classified as glaucoma, one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in the United States. Several recent breakthroughs in gene mapping and cloning have resulted from her collaborations with glaucoma specialist Paul R. Lichter, M.D., biostatistician Michael Boehnke, PhD, and researchers at other institutions including Stanford, University of Oklahoma, and UCSF.

Her work on characterizing specific glaucoma genes and their role in glaucoma and related phenomena is paralleled by efforts to better understand the clinical characteristics associated with particular genes and mutations. Studies at the level of genes, cells, animals and people all assist in our efforts to sort through the underlying causes of the hereditary glaucomas and evaluate the relationships between the glaucomas and a variety of abnormal developmental processes, both ocular and non-ocular. Genome scanning, positional candidate cloning, gene mapping, mutation screening, expression studies including promoter analysis and studies of protein products, cell culture and transgenic animal models of human disease, computer informatics, clinical characterization, genetic counseling and patient education all contribute to advances in understanding the underlying causes of glaucoma and relating those findings to clinical practice.

Credentials

  • Ph.D. - Genetics, University of Wisconsin
  • Postdoctoral, Molecular Genetics, Stanford University and University of Michigan

Published Articles or Reviews

Web Sites