During my thesis research I studied the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the survival and axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganlgion cells (RGCs), the only projecting neurons of the retina, after optic nerve transection in the frog. However, these mechanisms are not found in the mammalian retina, where a massive loss of these cells occurs after optic nerve injury. Currently I'm studying the molecular mechanisms involved in the degeneration of mouse RGCs during the progression of glaucoma, a retinal neurodegenerative disease where loss of RGCs and optic nerve degeneration cause visual loss. Hopefully, the undesrtanding of these mechanisms will help to determine effective therapeutic intervetions that preserve and rescue RGCs during glaucoma.