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Rachael A Pearson MA PhD

Date of Birth: 21st June 1977 Current Position: Professor in Developmental Neuroscience and Royal Society University Research Fellow

Department of Genetics UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Tel: + 44 (0) 207 608 4022 Fax: + 44 (0) 207 608 6991 Email: rachael.pearson@ucl.ac.uk

Education 2004 Diploma (Distinction) Sci. Communication Birkbeck College,

University of London 2003 PhD Neuroscience Department of Physiology, University College London 1999 BA (I) Natural Sciences (Physiology) Hertford College,

University of Oxford

Professional History 2016 - Professor in Developmental Neuroscience Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology 2013 - 2016 Reader in Developmental Neuroscience Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology 2007 - 2016 Royal Society University Research Fellow Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology 2004 - 2007 MRC Postdoctoral Research Associate

UCL Institute of Child Health 2003 - 2004 Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Research Associate

UCL Department of Physiology (now NPP)

N.B. I have taken three periods of maternity from 09/08 - 04/09; 05/11 - 12/11; 10/13 - 05/14

Affiliations 2012 – British Society of Gene and Cell therapy 2006 - British Neuroscience Society 2004 - Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2002 - Society for Neuroscience

Peer reviewing Grant Boards Royal Society Newton International Fellowships (2012- 2016) and (2018 - )

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NC3Rs Research Grants Board (2016 - Grant applications Review grant applications submitted to:

Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Royal Society, BBSRC, Macular Society, National Eye Research Centre, Bristol; RP Fighting Blindness, Fight for Sight, NC3Rs, Swiss National Science Foundation, NC3Rs Manuscripts Reviewer of manuscripts submitted to:

Neuron; Nature Comms; PloS Biology; Scientific Reports; J. Neuroscience; Stem Cells; Stem Cells Translational Medicine; Stem Cells and Development; European Journal of Neuroscience; Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Journal of Physiology; Brain Research; PLoS One; Molecular Vision; Current Eye Research American Journal of Physiology; Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research; Experimental Eye Research; Clinical Ophthalmology; Purinergic Signalling; Cell Transplantation; Progress in Retina and Eye Research; Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience; Current Eye Research

Awards & Prizes – past 10 yrs 2014 Alcon Research Institute Young Investigator Award

The John Marshall Scientist Award, RP Fighting Blindness

2013 Lister Research Prize, short-listed 2012 The European Society of Gene and Cell Therapy Young Investigator Award 2008 Royal College of Ophthalmologists Fight for Sight Award 2007-2016 Royal Society University Research Fellowship

Grants awarded Royal Society Royal Society University Research Fellowship (Renewal) (2013-2017); Stem cell therapy and retinal degeneration; Principal Investigator Newton International Postdoctoral Fellowship for Rahul Langhe (2017-2019); Muller Glial-mediated regeneration; Sponsor Medical Research Council Programme Grant (2012-2017) Development of stem cell therapy to restore photopic vision; Co-Investigator (Pearson, Ali, Sowden) Capital Equipment Grant MR/L012758/1 (2013-2018); A flow cytometry facility for ocular regenerative medicine, Co-Investigator Macular Vision Research Foundation: Project Grant (2015-2017) Retinal repair using embryonic stem cell derived photoreceptors: defining the window of transplantation competence; Principal Investigator Fight For Sight PhD Studentship (2015-2018); Do Chondroitin Sulphate Proteoglycans in the diseased retina impair transplanted photoreceptor migration by inhibiting integrin signalling? (for

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Aikaterini Kalargyrou); Principal Investigator Project Grant (2013-2017); Defining strategies to modulate gliosis to achieve robust integration of transplanted photoreceptors into the diseased retina; Principal Investigator UCL Grand Challenge PhD studentship (2012 – 2015) for Mr Dominic Aghaizu; Molecular determinants of photoreceptor migration in development and transplantation; Principal Supervisor Alcon Research Institute Young Investigator Grant (2014-2017) Photoreceptor replacement therapy for the treatment of retinal retina degeneration; Principal Investigator; $50,000 Moorfields Eye Hospital Special Trustees Project Grant (2014-2016); Modulating gliosis to improve photoreceptor transplantation outcome in the diseased retina (consumables support for FFS grant); Principal Investigator; £46,822 Project Grant (2017-2019); Capital Equipment Grant (2013-2018); A flow cytometry facility for ocular regenerative medicine; MR/L012758/1; Co-Investigator, £277,386 Previous: Royal Society Royal Society University Research Fellowship (2007-2013); Stem cell therapy and retinal degeneration; Principal Investigator, £498,528 MRC MRC/UCL Institute of Neurology 4 yr Clinical Neuroscience PhD studentship (2012 – 2015) for Miss Anna Graca; amount £105,000, Principal Supervisor BBSRC Project Grant (2011-2015); An evolutionarily restricted role for purinergic signalling in the maintenance of retinal stem cells; Principal Investigator, £398,000, (with Professor S Ohnuma, Professor R Ali and Professor J Sowden) RP Fighting Blindness Project Grant (2010-2013); Photoreceptor replacement therapy and gliosis; development of strategies to improve cell integration; Principal Investigator, £190, 311 Wellcome Trust 4 yr PhD studentship (2012 – 2015) for Mr Paul Waldron, Principal Supervisor; £115,000, Project Grant (2007-2011) Retinal Repair and Stem Cell Therapy: Mechanisms of photoreceptor precursor cell integration; Principal Investigator, £229, 979

4 yr PhD Studentship (2009 – 2012) for Miss Katherine Warre-Cornish; Principal Supervisor, £154,427

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Royal Society International Exchange Grant for Sujatha Jayakody (2013) Purinergic signalling in the Xenopus CMZ, Principal Investigator, £5,000 Project Grant (2009-2011) Stem cell therapy and retinal repair, Principal Investigator, £50,000 Project Grant (2009-2010) Purinergic signalling and the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of adult retinal stem cells, Principal Investigator, £14,480 Fight For Sight Project Grant (2013-2016); Defining strategies to modulate gliosis to achieve robust integration of transplanted photoreceptors into the diseased retina; Principal Investigator, £170,000 Moorfields Eye Hospital Special Trustees Project Grant (2014-2016); Modulating gliosis to improve photoreceptor transplantation outcome in the diseased retina (consumables support for FFS grant); Principal Investigator; £46,822 Project Grant (2012 -2015); Stem cells and retinal repair – identification of the mechanisms of migration used by photoreceptors following transplantation; Principal Investigator; £47,750 UCL Graduate School Research Project Fund Grant (2010) Equipment grant; Sponsor, £1,800 Research Project Fund Grant (2008) Equipment grant; Principal Investigator, £1,972 Travel Grants 2006 – now Travel Awards from Association for Research in Vision and

Ophthalmology (3), University College London Graduate School (4), Gordon Research Conference (1) for myself and my students and post-docs. Total value = £4,200

Plenary Lectures 2015 Genetics in Ophthalmology Symposium, OMMA, Athens, Greece 2013 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Workshop, Cardiff 2011 Cambridge Neuroscience Symposium, University of Cambridge 2009 Vision Meeting, University of Bristol

Invited talks Invited presentations at international and national meetings: 2018 FASEB Retinal Neurobiology and Visual Processing, Vermont XXIII Biennial International Society for Eye Research, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

2017 JSPS Stem Cells and the Eye, Cardiff, UK

2016 Gordon Research Conference on Visual System Development, Vermont, USA 6th Annual Center for Vision Restoration Conference, Pittsburg, USA Alcon Research Institute, Award Lecture, San Diego, USA XXII Meeting of the International Society for Eye Research, Tokyo, Japan (unable to accept due to family commitments)

2015 FASEB conference on Biology and Chemistry of Vision, Colorado

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Gordon Research Conference on “Regenerative Engineering and Functional Materials Integration”, Spain

Cold Spring Harbour meeting “Vision: a platform for linking circuits, perception and behavior” European Retina 2015, Brighton, UK 25th Annual Meeting of the Network of European CNS Transplantation & Restoration (NECTAR), Lund, Sweden Genetics in Ophthalmology Symposium, OMMA, Athens, Greece MVRF meeting (unable to accept due to family commitments) Alcon Meeting (unable to accept due to family commitments)

2014 4th Annual Stem Cell Symposium, University of Cambridge, UK

Symposium on Ocular Regeneration: Cell therapy and Regeneration in the Retina, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA (unable to attend)

2013 Cold Spring Harbour meeting “Vision: a platform for linking circuits, perception and behavior” ISOCB, Oxford UK British Society for Gene and Cell Therapy, UK Trends in Ophthalmology, The Royal Society, UK Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Workshop (Plenary speaker), Cardiff Departmental seminar, Moorfields Eye Hospital

2012 European Society for Gene and Cell Therapy (Prize lecture)

Association for Research into Vision and Ophthalmology, Florida, USA 10th European Congress of Neuropathology, Edinburgh Royal Society, London, UK Departmental seminar, University of Southampton Departmental seminar, University of Warwick Departmental seminar, Moorfields Eye Hospital Session chair, Head Group Conference, UCL Institute of Child Health

2011 UCL Neuroscience Symposium, University College London, UK

Cambridge Neurosciences Symposium, University of Cambridge, UK UK National Stem Cell Network Meeting, University of York (unable to accept as on maternity leave)

2010 Departmental Seminar, MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Kings

College London

Departmental Seminar, University of Manchester 2009 Vision Meeting, Plenary Speaker, University of Bristol, UK

Retina 2009, Fighting Blindness, Ireland ISOCB/ARVO, Portugal Departmental Seminar, University of Newcastle

Departmental Seminar, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London. Departmental Seminar, Hõpital Jules-Gonin, Geneva

2008 Association for Research into Vision and Ophthalmology, Florida, USA

Departmental Seminar, State University of New York, Syracuse Moorfields Eye Hospital. Departmental Seminar, Great Ormond street Hospital

2007 Irish Network of Neural Stem Cell Investigators, Ireland Departmental Seminar, Institute of Child Health, University College London. 2006 Gordon Research Conference on Visual System Development, Italy

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Advances in the Use of Stem Cells for Repair and Regeneration of the Eye Conference, University of Florida, USA

Academic supervision Postdoctoral Research Associates:

2016 - Nozie Aghaizu (FFS) 2015- 2015 Chloe Rackham PhD (FFS) 2010 - 2014 Claire Hippert PhD (RPFB/FFS) 2012 - 2015 Sujatha Jayakody (BBSRC) PhD Students:

2016 - Joana Claudio-Ribeiro BSc, Part-time PhD student (Second Supervisor)

2015 - Aikaterina Kalagyrou BSc, Fight For Sight PhD Studentship 2013 - 2017 Debbie Goh, Self-funded PhD studentship (Second Supervisor) 2012 - 2016 Paul Waldron, Wellcome Trust 4 yr Neuroscience PhD Studentship 2012 - 2016 Anna Graca, MRC 4yr Clinical Neuroscience PhD studentship 2012 - 2016 Dominic Aghaizu, UCL Grand Challenge Studentship 2012 - 2017 Martha Robinson, Wellcome Trust 4 yr Neuroscience PhD

Studentship (Second Supervisor)

2009 - 2012 Amanda Barber PhD, Part-time PhD student (now Sir Henry Dale Fellow, University of Cambridge)

2009 - 2012 Katherine Warre Cornish PhD, Wellcome Trust 4 yr Neuroscience PhD (now post-doctoral researcher, Kings College London)

2009 Katherine Warre Cornish BA – rotation project

Wellcome Trust 4 yr Neuroscience PhD Studentship – rotation project 2008 Talia Atkin, Wellcome Trust 4 yr Neuroscience PhD Studentship –

rotation project (Primary supervisor) 2004 – 2007 Supervised junior researchers (PhD students and post-doctoral

researchers) in the laboratories of Professor Jane Sowden and Professor Robin Ali.

2000 – 2004 Supervised junior researchers (PhD students) in the laboratory of

Professor Peter Mobbs MSc/BSc Students:

2017 Mark Tran, MRes in Bioscience Chandni Azad, BSc Natural sciences (literature project)

2016 Praeploy Pongmamon, MRes in Stem Cells and Development 2016 Nina Bruggeman, BSc 2015 Daniel Ackland (MSc Biology of Vision; awarded Distinction for

project) 2014 Dimitar Jongslev (Pharmacy graduate internship) 2012 Tong Ka, BSc (MSc Neuroscience; awarded Distinction)

Angshumonik Angbohang, BSc (MSc Neuroscience) Kareem Mahgoub (MSc Biology of Vision; awarded Distinction) Katlyn Green (BSc Neuroscience)

Previous 2010 Haydar Husain, BSc (MSc Biology of Vision; awarded Sept 2010)

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NB. I have had to turn down many requests for MSc/BSc projects in my lab because of my three periods of leaves during the period 2008-2014.

Examination of PhD/MSc theses: 2017 Aisling Lynch, University College London (PhD) 2017 Sara Ratican, University of Cambridge (MPhil) 2017 Praeploy Pongmamorn, University College London (MRes) 2016 Debbie Goh, University College London (MPhil/PhD upgrade) 2015 Daniel Ackland, UCL (MSc)

Have had to decline invitations to examine PhD theses for Kings and Edinburgh due to family commitments

2013 Tiarnan Keenen, Univeristy of Machnchester (PhD) 2012 Anghumomik Angbohang, MSc Neuroscience, UCL (MSc) Tong Ka, MSc Neuroscience, UCL (MSc) Kareem Mahgoub, MSc Biology of Vision, UCL (MSc) 2011 Samih Fourali, MSc Neuroscience, UCL (MSc) 2010 Haydar Husain, MSc Biology of Vision, UCL (MSc)

Teaching activity University College London 2013 - current BSc Anatomy (Lectures on Stem Cells and Neural Development) 2012 – current MRes Neuroscience (Lectures, Master classes - Regenerative

Medicine) 2011 - current Paediatric Ophthalmology: Advances in Clinical Practice MSc Neuroscience 2009 - current MSc Biology of Vision Other Institutions 2013 MSc City University: Lectures on Regenerative Medicine in the Eye 2010 MSc Ophthalmology, University of Manchester: Lectures on Retinal

Development and Stem Cells

Enabling activity University College London 2017 UCL Neuroscience Symposium – Chair 2017 Athena SWAN International Women’s Day - speaker

2017 Royal Society Research Fellowships Mentor 2015 UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Strategic review, consultation board 2015 Moorfields Eye Hospital/Institute of Ophthalmology Whiteboard

Strategy Discussion Panel 2013 Future Fifty UCL Mentorship Scheme for Young Investigators 2012 - 2013 UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Athena Swan Advisory Group, 2011 UCL Neuroscience Symposium – Co-chair 2010 - 2013 UCL Early Career Neuroscientists Forum – Founding Chair 2010 - present UCL Neuroscience Steering Committee 2010 - 2016 UCL Institute of Ophthalmology Ethics, Care and Welfare Committee 2008 - present UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Department of Genetics, Imaging

Group

Selected Public Engagement Activities 2017 Pint of Science, London

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2017 ESGCT Public Engagement Day, Oxford 2015 Fight For Sight 2015 Making Eyes: Highgate School 2014 UCL/Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology

“AMD Patient Day” (Biannual Event) 2013 Edinburgh Science Festival Public Lecture 2012 Interviews with broadsheet and TV following publication in Nature. 2012 UCL/Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology

“Retina Patient Day” (Biannual Event) 2011 Royal Society – Spotlight PodCast

Special Trustees, Moorfields Eye Hospital. 2010 Future of Science - Pecha Kucha - Dana Centre, Science Museum 2009 Stem Cell PodCast, Wellcome Trust

Publications Papers

Gonzalez-Cordero A, Kruczek K, Naeem A, Fernando M, Kloc M, Ribeiro J, Goh D, Duran Y, Blackford SJI, Abelleira-Hervas L, Sampson RD, Shum IO, Branch MJ, Gardner PJ, Sowden JC, Bainbridge JWB, Smith AJ, West EL, Pearson RA, Ali RR. (2017) Recapitulation of Human Retinal Development from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Generates Transplantable Populations of Cone Photoreceptors. Stem Cell Reports. 9(3):820-837 Kruczek K., Gonzalez-Cordero A., Goh D., Naeem A., Jonikas M., Blackford S., Duran Y., Maswood R.N., Georgiadis A., Smith A.J., Decembrini S., Arsenijevic Y., Sowden J.C., Pearson R.A., West E.L., Ali R.R. (2017) Differentiation and transplantation of embryonic stem cell-derived cone photoreceptors into a mouse model of end-stage retinal degeneration. Stem Cell Reports 8(6):1659-1674. Athanasiou D, Aguila M, Opefi CA, South K, Bellingham J, Bevilacqua D, Munro PM, Kanuga N, Mackenzie FE, Dubis AM, Georgiadis A, Graca AB, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sakami S, Palczewski K, Sherman MY, Reeves PJ, Cheetham ME.(2017) Rescue of mutant rhodopsin traffic by metformin-induced AMPK activation accelerates photoreceptor degeneration. Hum Mol Genet. 26(2):305-319. Aghaizu ND, Kruczek K, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Ali RR, Pearson RA. (2017) Pluripotent stem cells and their utility in treating photoreceptor degenerations. Prog Brain Res. 2017;231:191-223. Pearson R.A*. Gonzalez-Cordero A., West E.L., Ribeiro J.R., Aghaizu N., Goh D., Sampson R.D., Georgiadis A., Waldron P.V., Duran Y., Naeem A., Kloc M., Cristante E., Kruczek K., Sowden J.C., Smith A.J., Ali R.R. (2016) Donor and host photoreceptors engage in material transfer following transplantation of post-mitotic photoreceptor precursors. Nat Comms. 7:13029. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13029

*Corresponding Author Graca A.B., Hippert C., Pearson, R.A. (In Press) Müller glia reactivity and development of gliosis in response to pathological conditions. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol.

*Corresponding Author Hippert C., Graca A.B., Pearson, R.A. (2016). Gliosis can impede integration following photoreceptor transplantation into the diseased retina. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 854:579-85

*Corresponding Author

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Lakowski, J., Gonzalez-Cordero, A., West, E. L., Han, Y. -T., Welby, E., Naeem, A., Blackford, S.J., Bainbridge, J.W.B., Pearson, R.A., Ali, R.R., Sowden, J. C. (2015). Transplantation of Photoreceptor Precursors Isolated via a Cell Surface Biomarker Panel from Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Self-Forming Retina. Stem Cells, 33(8), 2469-2482. Hippert, C., Graca, A. B., Barber, A. C., West, E. L., Smith, A. J., Ali, R. R., Pearson, R. A.* (2015). Müller glia activation in response to inherited retinal degeneration is highly varied and disease-specific. PLoS ONE, 10(3):e0120415. *Corresponding Author Jayakody, S. A., Gonzalez-Cordero, A., Ali, R. R., & Pearson, R. A.* (2014). Cellular strategies for retinal repair by photoreceptor replacement. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. Invited Review. *Corresponding Author Warre-Cornish K, Barber AC, Sowden JC, Ali RR, Pearson R.A.,* (2013) Migration, integration and maturation of photoreceptor precursors following transplantation in the mouse retina. Stem Cells Dev. 23(9):941-54. *corresponding author Gonzalez-Cordero A., West E.L., Pearson R.A., Duran Y., Carvalho L.S., Chu C.J., Naeem A., Blackford S.J.I., Georgiadis A., Lakowski J., Hubank M., Smith A.J., Bainbridge J.W.B., Sowden J.C., Ali R.R. (2013) Photoreceptor precursors derived from three-dimensional cultures of embryonic stem cells integrate and mature in degenerate retina. Nat. Biotech. 31(8):741-7 Barber A.C., Hippert C., Duran Y., West E.L., Bainbridge J.W.B., Warre-Cornish K., Luhmann U.F.O., Sowden J.C., Ali R.R., Pearson R.A*. (2013) Repair of the degenerate retina by photoreceptor transplantation. PNAS. 110(1): 354-9, *corresponding author

Pearson R.A, Barber A.C, Hippert C., Rizzi M1, Xue T., Duran Y., Chuang J.Z., Bennuci A., West, E.L, Luhmann U.F.O, Sowden J.C,, Carandini M, Sung CH, Yau K.W, Ali, R.R. (2012) Functional and behavioural rescue of vision by rod photoreceptor transplantation. Nature, 485(7396):99-103.

*co-corresponding author West EL, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Hippert C, Osakada F, Martinez-Barbera JP, Pearson RA, Sowden JC, Takahashi M, Ali RR. (2012). Defining the integration capacity of ES cell-derived photoreceptor precursors. Stem Cells., 30(7):1424-35 West EL, Pearson RA*, Duran Y. Gonzalez-Cordero A, MacLaren RE, Smith AJ, Sowden JC, Ali RR*. (2012) Manipulation of the recipient retinal environment by ectopic expression of neurotrophic growth factors can improve transplanted photoreceptor integration and survival. Cell Transplantation. 21(5):871-87 * co-corresponding author Gualdoni S, Baron M, Lakowski J, Decembrini S, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sowden JC. (2011) Isolation and culture of adult ciliary epithelial cells, previously identified as retinal stem cells,

and retinal progenitor cells. Curr Protoc Stem Cell Biol. Chapter 1:Unit 1H.4. Lakowski J, Han Y-T, Pearson RA, Gonzalez-Cordero A, West EL, Gualdoni S, Barber AC, Hubank M, Ali RR, Sowden JC. (2011) Effective transplantation of photoreceptor precursor cells selected via cell surface antigen expression. Stem Cells. 29(9):1391-404

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Mihelec M, Pearson RA, Robbie SJ, Buch PK, Smith AJ, Hunt DM, Bainbridge JWB, Ali RR (2011). Improved visual function following gene therapy in a mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) caused by GC1 deficiency. Hum. Gene Ther. 22(10):1179-90 Carvalho LS, Xu J, Pearson RA, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JW, Morries LM, Fliesler SJ, Ding XQ, Ali RR. (2011) Long-term and age-dependent restoration of visual function in a mouse model of CNGB3-associated achromatopsia following gene therapy. Hum Mol Genet.

(20(16):3161-75) Buch PK, Mihelec M, Cottrill PB, Wilkie SE, Pearson RA, Duran Y, West EL, Michaelides M, Ali RR, Hunt DM. (2011) Dominant cone-rod dystrophy: a mouse model generated by gene

targeting of the GCAP1/guca1a gene. PLoS One 6(3):e18089.

Pearson RA*, West EL, Barker SE, Luhmann UFO, MacLaren RE, Barber AC, Duran Y, Smith AJ, Sowden JC, Ali RR*. (2010) Long term survival of photoreceptors transplanted into the adult neural retina requires immune modulation. Stem Cells. 28(11):1997-2007. * co-corresponding author Lakowski J, Baron M, Bainbridge J, Barber A, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sowden JC. (2010) Generation of New Cone and Rod Photoreceptors in models of Lebers congenital amaurosis by Transplantation of Crx-Positive Precursor Cells. Hum. Mol. Gen. 9(23):4545-59. Decembrini S, Cananzi M, Gualdoni S, Battersby S, Allen N, Pearson RA, Ali RR, De Coppi P, Sowden JC. (2010) Comparative analysis of the retinal potential of embryonic stem cells and amniotic fluid derived stem cells. Stem Cells Dev (In Press) Gualdoni S, Baron M, Lakowski J, Decembrini S, Smith A, Pearson RA, Ali RR, Sowden JC

(2010) Adult ciliary epithelial cells, previously identified as retinal stem cells with potential for retinal repair, fail to differentiate into new photoreceptors. Stem Cells. 28(6):1048-59. Pearson RA*, Barber A, West, EL, Duran Y, MacLaren RE, Bainbridge J, Sowden J.C, Ali RR (2010) Genetic and molecular manipulations of the outer limiting membrane lead to robust integration of transplanted photoreceptor precursors into the adult eye. Cell Transplantation. 19(4):487-503. *co-corresponding author Pearson RA, Kokkinopoulos Y, MacNeil A, Ali RR, Sowden JC (2008). Isolation and characterisation of neural progenitor cells from the adult Chx10orJ/orJ central neural retina. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 38: 359-373. West EL, Pearson RA, Tschernutter M, Sowden JC, MacLaren RE, Ali RR (2008). Pharmacological disruption of the outer limiting membrane leads to increased retinal integration of transplanted photoreceptor precursors. Exp. Eye. Res. 86(4):601-11. MacNeil A, Pearson RA, MacLaren RE, Smith A, Sowden JC, Ali RR (2007). Comparative analysis of neural retinal stem/progenitor cells isolated from the iris, pars plana and ciliary body of the porcine eye. Stem Cells 25(10):2430-8. Pearson RA, MacLaren RE, MacNeil A, Douglas RH, Salt TE, Akimoto M, Swaroop A, Sowden JC, Ali RR (2006). Retinal repair by transplantation of photoreceptor precursors. Nature 444(7116):203-7. Dhomen N, Balaggan KS, Pearson RA, Bainbridge JW, Levine EM, Ali RR, Sowden JC. (2006) Absence of Chx10 causes neural progenitors to persist in the adult retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 47(1):386-96.

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Balaggan KS, Binley K, Esapa M, MacLaren RE, Iqball S, Duran Y, Pearson RA, Kan O, Barker SE, Smith AJ, Bainbridge JWB, Naylor S, Ali RR (2006) EIAV vector-mediated delivery of angiostatin or endostatin inhibits angiogenesis and vascular hyperpermeability in experimental CNV. Gene Therapy. 13(15):1153-65. Pearson RA*, Luneborg NL, Becker DL, Mobbs P (2005). Gap junctions modulate interkinetic nuclear migration in retinal progenitor cells. J. Neurosci. 25(46):10803-14.

*corresponding author Pearson RA*, Dale N, Llaudet E, Mobbs P (2005) ATP released via gap junction hemichannels from the pigment epithelium regulates neural retinal progenitor proliferation. Neuron. 46. 731-744.

*corresponding author. *F1000 selected paper

Pearson RA*, Catsicas M, Becker DL, Bayley P, Luneborg NL, Mobbs P (2004) Ca2+ signalling and gap junction coupling within and between pigment epithelium and neural retina in the developing chick. Eur. J. Neurosci. 19. 2435-2445.* corresponding author Pearson R*, Catsicas M, Becker D, Mobbs P (2002). Purinergic and muscarinic modulation of the cell cycle and calcium signaling in the chick retinal ventricular zone. J Neurosci. 22(17):7569-79. *corresponding author Becker DL, Ciantar D, Catsicas M, Pearson R, Mobbs P (2001). Use of pIRES vectors to express EGFP and connexin constructs in studies of the role of gap junctional communication in the early development of the chick retina and brain. Cell Comm Adhes. 8(4-6):355-9. Book Chapters and Invited Reviews

Ovando-Roche P., Georgiadis A., Smith A.J., Pearson R.A.*, Ali R.R. (In Press) Harnessing the Potential of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells and Gene Editing for the Treatment of Retinal Degeneration. Curr Stem Cell Reports.

*Corresponding Author

Aghaizu A., Kruczek K., Gonzalez-Cordero A., Ali R.R., Pearson R.A.* (In Press).

Pluripotent stem cells and their utility in treating photoreceptor degenerations. Brain Research. Functional Neural Transplantation IV, Chapter 21

*Corresponding Author Jayakody S, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Ali RR, Pearson RA (In revision) Using stem cells to repair the retina: lessons from development. Prog Ret Eye Res. Pearson RA, Hippert C, Graca AB, Barber AC. (2014) Photoreceptor replacement therapy: Challenges presented by the diseased recipient retinal environment. Vis Neurosci. 31(4-5):333-44. Pearson RA (2014). Repairing the diseased retina by photoreceptor transplantation. Biotechnology Advances. 30th Anniversary special Issue. 32(2):485-91.

West EL, Pearson RA, MacLaren RE, Sowden JC, Ali RR. (2009) Cell transplantation strategies for retinal repair. Prog Brain Res. 175:3-21. MacLaren RE & Pearson RA (2007). Stem cell therapy and the retina. Eye. 21(10):1352-9

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Martins RA & Pearson RA. (2007) Control of cell proliferation by neurotransmitters in the developing vertebrate retina. Brain Research. Pearson RA (2006), Chapter 6, in Retinal Development, Sernagor et al., Cambridge University Press