Name: Walter Lisch

My Area of Interest: corneal dystrophies

My Favourite Quote: What`s hardest of all ? It`s what you think is easiest : to see with your eyes what`s before your eyes.

I am a:Professor of Ophthalmology

Short Profile:

What are your future goals? Where do you see your research going?:
Causal therapy of corneal dystrophies. We are working on a special topic treatment for corneal dystrophies including patent submission.

Technologies seem to changing faster than ever, how do you adapt to that? What are the current technologies you are using?:
Intense collaboration with molecular genetists and molecular physiologists.

In the broader picture, where do you see the application for your cutting-edge research?:
1. Characterisation of new corneal dystrophies including DNA examinations :
a) Lisch epithelial corneal dystrophy.
Am J Ophthalmol 2000;130:461-468
b) X-linked endothelial corneal dystrophy.
Am J Ophthalmol 2oo6;141;478-487
c) A new corneal disorder:Franceschetti
corneal dystrophy.
Am J Ophthalmol in preparation

2. Identification of mutations :
Mutations in the UBIAD1 gene cause
Schnyder corneal dystrophy—.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2007;48:5007- 5012

3. Member of the International Committee for Classification of Corneal Dystrophies( IC3D):
The IC3D classification of corneal dystrophies.
Cornea 2008 Supplement. In press

Fast forward to 2020. What’s your vision of Genomi cs in 2020?:
Precise definition of the protein defect of corneal dystrophies with the possibility of a causal therapy. The extensive molecular identification of genes involved in corneal dystrophies could also open new therapy options for severe and frequent sytemic disorders. Thus lattice corneal dystrophy represents a corneal amyloidosis. Amyloid deposits in the brain of Alzheimer patients are pathognomic. The development of a causal therapy in corneal amyloidoses could be an important step in the treatmant of Alzheimer disease.