Daniel Albert, M.D., M.S.

  • Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine
  • Casey Eye Institute, School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Albert's research focuses on the treatment and prevention of ocular cancers; particularly the use of vitamin D analogues, resveratrol and its analogues, and anti-angiogenic peptides in the treatment and prevention of ocular cancer and in reversing angiogenesis in the wet form of macular degeneration. His preclinical data suggests that vitamin D analogues can prevent neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness among older Americans, as well as serve as an effective and relatively nontoxic treatment for retinoblastoma, melanoma, and neuroblastoma. His data further suggest that resveratrol inhibits tumor growth of human melanoma and neuroblastoma, and mediates apoptosis by directly targeting mitochondria. We have shown that calcium and calpain are key mediators of resveratrol-induced apoptosis in breast cancer. His findings also show that resveratrol can inhibit tumor growth and can induce apoptosis via the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. By further increasing bioavailability of resveratrol, the potency can be increased, leading to tumor regression. The nontoxic nature of this therapy makes resveratrol an attractive candidate for the treatment of uveal melanoma. His latest research findings also suggest that Cisplatin given in combination with Calcitriol may be a more potent option in the treatment of high risk retinoblastoma than when given alone. Finally, he recently established a rat model for retinal and choroidal angiogenesis based on intense cyclic light exposure. Employing the rat model gives him the opportunity to utilize his experience and expertise in experimental eye pathology in general and, regarding angiogenesis and the action of vitamin D analogs in particular, for the study and treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Education and training

    • B.S., 1958, Franklin and Marshall College
    • M.D., 1962, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
    • M.S., 1997, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Publications

Publications

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