Dr.
Grant is the Eivor and Alston Callahan, M.D., Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology at
the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Globally known for her discoveries
related to the functional processes of stem cells (hematopoietic, embryonic,
and induced pluripotent) and their potential to prevent or repair vascular
degeneration in retinopathies associated with diabetes and hypoxia, her recent
work has focused on understanding the gut-eye axis, particularly the link
between gut barrier function and disruption of the blood retinal barrier in
diabetes. Her presentation will discuss new ways to diminish DR using
genetically modified bacteria that target the renin angiotensin system and
using stem cells to increase the integrity of the gut barrier.