Program Director, Fundamental Retinal Processes Program, Division of Extramural Research
National Eye Institute (NEI),
National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
Specialties
- Retinal neuroscience
- Retinal development
- Molecular genetics
Current projects
As the program director for the Fundamental Retinal Processes portfolio, Dr. Neuhold works with scientists conducting research to better understand how the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, converts light and sends signals to the brain to create vision. The retina contains photoreceptor cells that connect to a network of nerve cells that send the visual information to the brain for decoding into a visual image, while the adjacent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) supports many of the retina's metabolic functions. Dr. Neuhold's program focuses on these areas and centers around research on the cell biology and development of photoreceptors, phototransduction, visual cycle, and retinal pigment epithelium. Furthering our knowledge of the molecular pathways associated with normal and degenerated retinas is critical for the development of novel treatments.
Professional highlights
Prior to joining the NEI, Dr. Neuhold was a program director at the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse overseeing the Neurogenetics program. Dr. Neuhold received her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland and did postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology. Before being recruited to the NIH, she worked for a pharmaceutical company, Wyeth-Ayerst Research, as a senior research scientist in the Molecular Genetics Division where she supervised the production of transgenic and gene-targeted mice for use in drug development. Dr. Neuhold has a broad scientific background and participated in writing several funding opportunity announcements in the areas of epigenetics and biomarkers for alcohol-related disorders, and stem cell therapies for ocular diseases. She also serves on several trans-NIH committees including the Coordinating Committee on Research on Women's Health (CCRWH), 424/electronic submission committee, and the Alternate Receipt and Referral Liaison.
Publications
Dr. Neuhold is co-author of many basic research articles published in Cell, Molecular Cellular Biology, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Alcohol Clinical Experimental Research as well as the editor of a review volume on neuroproteomics.
The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, leads the federal government's research on the visual system and eye diseases. NEI supports basic and clinical science programs that result in the development of sight-saving treatments.