Comparative Eye Pathology & Oncology Laboratory

Welcome to the Comparative Eye Pathology & Oncology Research Group at Tufts University.

We are focused on identifying the underlying mechanisms of eye and vision disorders. We utilize cell culture and animal models of ocular conditions to improve the diagnosis and treatment of human patients, with an emphasis on tumors of the ocular surface and adnexa and corneal wound healing. The laboratory is located at the Cummings School on the Grafton campus and is led by Cornelia Peterson, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology.

Transgenic mouse models are used to evaluate the morphological changes of the Meibomian glands in response to induced expression of oncogenes in vivo.
Human corneal epithelial cells are used to evaluate the potential effects of candidate small molecules on the proliferative and migratory responses necessary for wound healing in vitro.
Human Meibomian gland epithelial cells are used to evaluate in vitro expression of fluorescently labeled proteins in various signaling pathways involved in the development of sebaceous tumors.