Research

Welcome to the La Torre lab!

At the La Torre Lab, we study how the central nervous system generates the right cells in the right place at the right time and how those developmental programs can be leveraged to replace lost cells in disease. Our favorite model is the retina (though the neocortex occasionally gets some attention), where we study how neural progenitors time their fate decisions and how post-transcriptional mechanisms, especially microRNAs, keep that timing precise. We’re also fascinated by the molecular choreography that produces the human fovea, a tiny pit in our retina that provides the clearest, most detailed view of our surroundings and, arguably, one of biology’s most elegant engineering feats.

We’re equally invested in vision repair, particularly in restoring retinal ganglion cells after degeneration. Using stem cell-derived retinal organoids and custom-built models of degeneration, we aim to bridge development and regeneration to better understand and rebuild the visual system.

Mechanisms of Neural Morphogenesis and Fate Specification

The La Torre Lab studies how the central nervous system generates its remarkable variety of neurons during....

Development of the Primate Retina

The primate retina has unique features not found in most other vertebrates, most notably the fovea, a small pit in the central retina where cone....

Cell Replacement Therapies for Retinal Degeneration

Retinal degenerative diseases, including glaucoma and other optic neuropathies, lead to the irreversible loss of retinal....