Curriculum Vitae

Position

Principal Investigator and Associate Research Scientist: 2021 – Present
Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC)
Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute New York, NY, USA
Mentors: Prof. Stephen H. Tsang and Prof. Irene H. Maumenee

Education

Leiden University, Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
Thesis: The Retinal Crumbs Complex: From Animal Models and Retinal Organoids to Therapy.
Supervisor’s: Prof. Gré P.M. Luyten and Associate Prof. Jan Wijnholds.

Brunel University, Master of Science – MSc
Subject: Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research

The University of Manchester, Bachelor of Science – BSc
Subject: Biological Science

Awards and Honors

Finalists in Nucleate’s Activator program: Sapien Bioscience – 2022. Team: Bruna Lopes da Costa, Salvatore Caruso, Yi-Ting (Woofung) Tsai, Stephen H. Tsang, Peter M.J. Quinn.

Finalists in Translational Therapeutics Resource (TRx) Accelerator, Columbia University – 2021/2022. Team: Bruna Lopes da Costa, Salvatore Caruso, Nicholas Nolan, Stephen H. Tsang, Peter M.J. Quinn.

Travel Award for the XIXth International Symposium on Retinal Degenerations (RD2021)

IRRF Loris and David Rich Postdoctoral Scholar – 2021

B. Dobli Srinivasan Award – 2021 Shared with Bruna Lopes da Costa and Yi-Ting Tsai

New York Stem Cell Foundation Druckenmiller Fellow -2021

Outstanding Scholars in Neuroscience Award Program (OSNAP) -2021 The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Scientfic Photo Contest Winner -2020 Columbia Stem Cell Initiative (CSCI)

B. Dobli Srinivasan Award – 2020

The best Publications of the Year 2019 – Vision Research community (vision-research.eu). Quinn et al. Stem Cell Reports, 2019. PMID: 30956116

Research grants

PATIENT DERIVED STEM CELL LINES ENABLE FUNCTIONAL DISSECTION OF CRUMB1 ISOFORMS
Type: New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Druckenmiller Fellowship
Funding agency: New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) 
PI: Peter M.J. Quinn
Mentor: Stephen H. Tsang
2021 – 2024

CRISPR THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES FOR THE AMELIORATION OF CRB1 RETINAL DYSTROPHIES
Type: Research grant
Funding agency: Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation (CRBF)
PI: Peter M.J. Quinn
Mentors: Stephen H. Tsang and Irene H. Maumenee
2020 – 2023

AAV mediated Gene Augmentation Therapy for CRB1-Associated Retinal Degeneration
Type: Research grant
Funding agency: The International Retinal Research Foundation 
PI: Peter M.J. Quinn
Mentor: Stephen H. Tsang
2021 – 2022

Generation of CRB1 Null Retinal Organoids for the Investigation of CRB1 mediated Retinal Dystrophies
Type: Research grant
Funding agencies: Uplifting Athletes and Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation (CRBF)
PI: Peter M.J. Quinn
Mentors: Stephen H. Tsang and Irene H. Maumenee
2021 – 2022

DISEASE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING CRB1 LEBERS CONGENITAL AMAUROSIS USING CRB1 LCA PATIENT DERIVED RETINAL ORGANOIDS
Type: Career starter grant
Funding agency: Knights Templar Eye Foundation (KTEF)
PI: Peter M.J. Quinn
Mentors: Stephen H. Tsang and Irene H. Maumenee
2020 – 2022