Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
Visual Sciences, Glaucoma, Histology, and Molecular Mechanisms
URL
Area of Expertise
Our lab is dedicated to investigating the dysregulated molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Specifically, we study primary human cells in the optic nerve head (ONH), ONH astrocytes and lamina cribrosa (LC) cells. In glaucoma, the increase in intraocular pressure is transmitted to the back of the eye, causing stretching and straining of the ONH cells. This results in ONH cells contributing to the extracellular remodeling within the LC region of the ONH in glaucoma. Our research is particularly interested in exploring the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of glaucoma. miRNAs are negative regulators of protein translation. We have found that TGF-beta 2 treated and glaucoma ONH cells from human donors have an increased expression of profibrotic miRNAs and a decreased expression of anti-fibrotic miRNAs. Investigating the role of miRNAs in glaucomatous ONH could lead to new therapeutic targets for glaucoma.
Techniques
Molecular biology techniques, cell culture, microscopy, histology
Education/Academic qualification
MS in Cell Biology & Genetics, UNT Health Science Center
PhD in Cell Biology & Genetics, UNT Health Science Center
BS in Biology, University of The Incarnate Word
My gallery
×
![]()
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Tara Tovar-Vidales is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
-
Preclinical Evaluation of Graybug Vision Compound
Clark, A. (PI), Tovar-Vidales, T. (CoI), Liu, Y. (CoI) & Millar, C. (CoI)
5/06/17 → 4/06/19
Project: Research
-
Role of MicroRNAs(miRNAs) in the Pathologic Fibrosis in the Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Head
Tovar-Vidales, T. (PI)
16/02/17 → 15/02/18
Project: Research
-
Expression of procollagen C-proteinase enhancer 1 in human trabecular meshwork tissues and cells
Rangan, R., Sad do Valle, R. & Tovar-Vidales, T., Dec 2022, In: Experimental eye research. 225, 109280.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Transforming growth factor-beta2 utilizes the canonical Smad-signaling pathway to regulate tissue transglutaminase expression in human trabecular meshwork cells
Tovar-Vidales, T., Clark, A. F. & Wordinger, R. J., Oct 2011, In: Experimental eye research. 93, 4, p. 442-451 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Tissue transglutaminase expression and activity in normal and glaucomatous human trabecular meshwork cells and tissues
Tovar-Vidales, T., Roque, R., Clark, A. F. & Wordinger, R. J., Feb 2008, In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 49, 2, p. 622-628 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Effects of TGF-β2, BMP-4, and gremlin in the trabecular meshwork: Implications for glaucoma
Wordinger, R. J., Fleenor, D. L., Hellberg, P. E., Pang, I. H., Tovar, T. O., Zode, G. S., Fuller, J. A. & Clark, A. F., Mar 2007, In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 48, 3, p. 1191-1200 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Identification and localization of lamina cribrosa cells in the human optic nerve head
Tovar-Vidales, T., Wordinger, R. J. & Clark, A. F., 1 Jun 2016, In: Experimental eye research. 147, p. 94-97 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review