Brian S. McKay, PhD

Professor, Ophthalmology - (Research Scholar Track)
Professor, Physiology
 
Additional Contact Info: 
Fax: (520) 626-1757
 
Education: 
  • University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1982-1987 (B.S., Biology)
  • Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1989-1995 (Ph.D., Cell Biology)
  • The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, 1995-1997 (Postdoctoral, Protein Chemistry)
Honors and Awards: 
  • American Society of Cell Biology travel award 1992
  • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Lawrence Retinal Research travel award 1993
  • The Scripps Research Institute Award for Excellence in Vascular Biology 1996
Major Areas of Research Interest: 
Dr. McKay conducts basic research towards understanding retinal degenerations and the molecular origins of glaucoma, asking the key questions necessary for successful development of cell based therapies. His collaborations with the vitreoretinal surgical staff are central to the projects success. Research is conducted in RPE transplantation methods for AMD therapy, and protein expression in glaucoma. In collaboration with W. Daniel Stamer, PhD, he is examining the structure and function of the myocilin to determine why the specific trait of glaucomatous disease is passed on through a nearly ubiquitous protein.
 
Selected Publications: 
Hoffman EA. Conley SM. Stamer WD. McKay BS. Barriers to productive transfection of trabecular meshwork cells. Molecular Vision. 11:869-75, 2005.

Hardy KM. Hoffman EA. Gonzalez P. McKay BS. Stamer WD. Extracellular trafficking of myocilin in human trabecular meshwork cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry. 280(32):28917-26, 2005.

Stamer WD. Bok D. Hu J. Jaffe GJ. McKay BS. Aquaporin-1 channels in human retinal pigment epithelium: role in transepithelial water movement. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 44(6):2803-8, 2003.

Stamer, WD, Bok, D, Hu, J, Jaffe, GJ, McKay, BS. Aquaporin-1 channels in
human retinal pigment epithelium: role in transepithelial water movement. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 44(6):2803-8, 2003.

Yang, P, McKay, BS, Allen, JB, Roberts,WL, Jaffe, GJ. Effect of mutant IkappaB on cytokine-induced activation of NF-kappaB in cultured human RPE cells. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 44(3):1339-47, 2003.
 
Sponsored Research Through MSRP: 
Trent Bowen, (MSRP 2013): "Examining the Role of Myocilin in Receptor Endocytosis."
 
Mariel Piechowicz, (MSRP 2017): "GPR143 and Dopamine Signaling in Lysosomal Activity of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium"
 
Garrett Hamblin, (MSRP 2018): "The Effect of GPR143 Signaling on Lysosomal Capacity in Retinal Pigment Epithelium."
 
Advanced Research Distinction Track (RDT): 
Ryan Teeple, (RDT Class of 2009): "OA1 signaling pathway and the effects of L-DOPA supplementation on albino animals."
 
Trent Bowen, (RDT Class of 2016): "Examining Myocilin's Role in Aqueous Humor Outflow Pathway"
 
Mariel Piechowicz, (RDT Class of 2020): "GPR143 and Dopamine Signaling in Lysosomal Activity of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium"
 
NIH High School Student Research Program: 
Moriah Martinez, Trevor G Browne High School, 2014
Angela Weger, Salpointe Catholic High School, 2014
 
Tuesday, March 6, 2018