Stephen R. Planck

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1976
Research Associate Professor, Ophthalmology
Joint Research Associate Professor, Cell and Developmental Biology
Joint Research Associate Professor, Medicine, Division of Arthritis and Rheumatic Diseases

Visual impairment or blindness often follows from over exuberant inflammatory or wound healing responses to a wide variety of insults on eyes. We are studying specific cytokines and adhesion molecules to learn more about intercellular communication during ocular inflammation (uveitis) and corneal injury responses in hopes of identifying novel therapeutic possibilities. Studies are done with disease models in experimental animals (including many lines of genetically altered mice and rats), tissues from human patients, and cultured cells. Cytokine and adhesion molecule production and responses are measured with bioassay, molecular genetic, and immunological techniques.  Intravital microscopy is used to visualize the location and movement of specific antibodies, antigens and cells in the eyes of living animals.  For more details with pictures and movies, see our pages on the Casey Eye Institute web site:  www.ohsucasey.com/research/inflammatory.asp

To contact Dr. Planck directly: plancks@ohsu.edu