Maureen Neitz

Undergraduate Education: BA, Molecular Biology, San Jose State University, 1979
Graduate Education: Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1986
Post-doctoral education: Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara
Previous Faculty Positions:  Asst. Prof, Assoc. Prof., Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin (1991 – 2008)
Memberships: International Color Vision Society (ICVS), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

Maureen and Jay Neitz collaborate on all aspects of their research, bringing a broad range of techniques and skill sets to bear on questions about how the human visual system works.  The labs have several focus areas, including:

1) identifying variants of the human cone photopigments that underlie photoreceptor-based vision disorders, including age-related macular degeneration, nearsightedness, glaucoma, and color vision deficiencies;

2) developing genetic tests to identify individuals at risk for these disorders before they develop symptoms to maximize the possibility of preventing vision loss;

3) developing new tools for assessing visual function in the laboratory;

4) developing a cure for color blindness that can be used in humans, and

5) developing a better understanding of the neural circuitry for color vision.

University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology 750 Republican Street Box 358058 Seattle, WA  98109 206 543 7998

website:  www.neitzvision.com

1981-1983: Regents Fellow, University of California, Santa Barbara 1991-1995: Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award 1995-1996: Research to Prevent Blindness, James S. Adams Scholar 2000-2001: Research to Prevent Blindness, Lew Wasserman Merit Award 2002-2003: Research to Prevent Blindness, Senior Scientific Investigator Award 2002: Alcon Research Institute Award for Excellence in Research 2005-2008: Richard O. Schultz-Ruth A. Works Endowed Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin 2009-present: Ray H Hill Endowed professorship 2010: Inaugural Jay Pepose Award in Vision Sciences, Brandeis University 2001-2002: Recipient, Outstanding Mentor Award, Graduate Student Association, Medical College of Wisconsin

Maureen and Jay Neitz collaborate on all aspects of their research, bringing a broad range of techniques and skill sets to bear on questions about how the human visual system works.  The labs have several focus areas, including:

1) identifying variants of the human cone photopigments that underlie photoreceptor-based vision disorders, including age-related macular degeneration, nearsightedness, glaucoma, and color vision deficiencies;

2) developing genetic tests to identify individuals at risk for these disorders before they develop symptoms to maximize the possibility of preventing vision loss;

3) developing new tools for assessing visual function in the laboratory;

4) developing a cure for color blindness that can be used in humans, and

5) developing a better understanding of the neural circuitry for color vision.

University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology 750 Republican Street Box 358058 Seattle, WA  98109 206 543 7998

website:  www.neitzvision.com