Rebecca Whiting, PhD

Dr. Rebecca Whiting's research focuses on therapeutic interventions for retinal degenerative and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Whiting works closely with Dr. Martin Katz and collaborators from the College of Veterinary Medicine to develop and evaluate potential therapies in a canine model of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a rare pediatric inherited disease that results in progressive degeneration of the retina and central nervous system. Preclinical studies performed by the team were instrumental in FDA approval of Brineura enzyme replacement therapy, the first available treatment for children with this disease. The research group recently received a five year NIH award to investigate the use of genetically modified mesenchymal stem cells for sustained delivery of the deficient lysosomal enzyme to the retina and brain in order to preserve vision in the dog model.