Silke Becker, PhD

Dr. Becker’s research program investigates the consequences of short- and long-term hypoxia on the function of retinal neurons. Her goal is to understand how oxygen deficits and fluctuations impair the light-sensing abilities of photoreceptors and inner retinal neurons and to identify potential therapeutic strategies to reverse this damage.

Retinal neurons are among the most metabolically demanding tissues in the body, relying on a steady supply of oxygen from the choroidal and retinal vasculatures. Retinal neovascular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity, are characterized by vascular abnormalities that lead to insufficient oxygen delivery or fluctuations in oxygen levels, which disrupt normal retinal function.

Dr. Becker’s research previously demonstrated that reduced photoreceptor and ON-bipolar cell function in the diabetic retina is reversible and not solely driven by cell-intrinsic defects, suggesting that therapeutic interventions may be possible even after the onset of damage. Her recent studies focus on how acute hypoxia disrupts light responses in retinal neurons and how varying oxygen levels – both low and elevated – cause photoreceptor damage in a model of retinopathy of prematurity. Her particular emphasis is on identifying the underlying mechanisms and finding ways to repair the damage.

Dr. Becker’s long-term goal is to translate her findings into effective therapeutic strategies that address both the vascular and neuronal aspects of retinal neovascular diseases, ultimately leading to new treatments that can preserve vision and improve quality of life for patients with conditions like diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. Through her research, she hopes to bridge the gap between understanding disease mechanisms and developing practical, life-changing solutions for retinal health.

Dr. Becker joined the Vinberg Laboratory at the John A. Moran Eye Center as a postdoctoral research associate in September 2017 and was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in June 2021.

She completed her doctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Philip Aaronson at King’s College London, where she investigated calcium signaling during hypoxia in the pulmonary vasculature. She has previously studied the potential of stem cell transplantation to improve retinal function in models of retinal ganglion cell loss in Professor G. Astrid Limb’s laboratory at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, UK, and gene therapeutic approaches to treat aberrant neovascularization in a model of retinopathy of prematurity in Dr. Mary Elizabeth Hartnett’s former laboratory at the Moran Eye Center.