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Douglas Borchman, Ph.D."The eye field has seen dramatic changes and discoveries in the last twenty years. And the whole area of research and treatment options are expanding exponentially... If we can delay the onset of cataracts by ten years, we can effectively eliminate the need for nearly half of all operations performed in this country." |
As a biophysicist, Douglas Borchman is equally fascinated by how the human lens can remain clear for decades, as by the factors which cause that clarity to diminish over time. This fascination has led him to explore how the composition, structure and function of membrane lipids contribute to the light scattering effect of cataracts. This scattering of light manifests itself in the clouding of vision we frequently associate with cataracts.
Membranes can be considered the "shrink wrap" casing around cells, which provide a semipermeable barrier separating the inside of the cell from its surrounding environment. Each membrane is made up of fat, which is called lipid by biochemists. Dr. Borchman's team recently characterized changes in human lens lipid composition with age and cataract. This research led to the discovery of dihydrosphingomyelin - a major lens phospholipid. Dr. Borchman is also leading a group of research associates in studying the structure and interactions of the lipid tear film, which has yet to be fully described on a molecular level. This area of concentration offers many potential benefits, since structural changes in lipids may play a role in the rate and stability of tear fluid evaporation.
Current Position
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Professor, Department of Biochemistry Professor, Department of Chemistry On Staff since 1986
Research Specialties
Cataract, Membrane Structure, Membrane Pumps, Membrane Spectroscopy, Lipids & Lipid Tear Film
Contact Information
borchman@louisville.edu
University of Louisville
Dept. Of Ophthalmology & Visual Science 301 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 852-7435
FAX - (502) 852-7450
Current Grants
National Eye Institute 1/2000 - 12/2004 Principal Investigator RO1 EYO7975 $1,182,550 "Spectroscopy and related studies on lens membrane lipid"
National Eye Institute 4/2001 - 3/2005 Co-Investigator with C.A. Paterson (Principal Investigator) RO1 EYO6916 $1,250,456 "Spectroscopy and related studies on lens membrane lipid"
Select Publications
Borchman, D., Gibblin, F.J., Yappert, M.C., Leverenz, V.R., Reddy, V.N., Lin, L., Tang, D.: Impact Of Aging And Hyperbaric Oxygen In Vivo On Guinea Pig Lens Lipid And Nuclear Light Scatter. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis Sci. 41:3061-73, 2000.
Borchman, D., Tang, D., and Yappert, M.C.: Lipid Composition, Membrane Structure Relationships In Lens And Muscle Sarcoplasmic Reticulum. Biospectroscopy 5:151-167, 1999
Education
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, B.S. Chemistry 1977
Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, Ph.D. Chemistry (Biochemistry) 1986
Professional Societies and Affiliations
Association of Research and Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, International Association of Biomedical Gerontology, International Congress of Eye Research, International Society for Free Radical Research, Japanese-USA Cooperative Cataract Research Group, European Association for Vision and Eye Research.