Faculty

Qi N. Cui, MD, PhD

faculty photo
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Department: Ophthalmology

Contact information
University of Pennsylvania
Stellar-Chance Laboratories
Room 305A, 422 Curie Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Education:
BS (Molecular & Cellular Biology and Psychology)
University of Arizona, 2002.
PhD (Neurobiology and Anatomy)
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , 2009.
MD
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , 2011.
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Description of Clinical Expertise

Dr. Cui specializes in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. She cares for patients at the Scheie Eye Institute and its satellite sites. She performs both glaucoma and cataract surgeries, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS).

Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests:
The Cui lab seeks to further our understanding of glaucoma pathogenesis and identify effective treatments for glaucoma.

Keywords:
ophthalmology; glaucoma; neuroinflammation; neuroprotection; macrophage; microglia; monocytes; oxidative stress; retinal ganglion cells; optic nerve; intraocular pressure; GLP-1 receptor agonists; iron chelation

Research Description:
Glaucoma is characterized by retinal ganglion cell loss and optic nerve degeneration resulting in insidious vision loss. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Elevated intraocular pressure is a well-known risk factor, and intraocular pressure reduction is the predominant therapy for slowing disease progression. Because glaucoma can continue to progress in many patients despite intraocular pressure normalization, new therapies targeting pathogenic mechanisms other than intraocular pressure are needed to prevent vision loss.

The Cui lab is actively evaluating GLP-1 receptors agonists, a class of diabetic and weight loss medication, as neuroprotective agents in glaucoma (Sterling et al. Cell Reports. 2020; Sterling et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2021). In collaboration with the lab of Joshua Dunaief, we showed iron chelation is effective for rescuing retinal ganglion cells and promoting optic nerve axon survival in an animal model of glaucoma.

Additional information can be found at the lab website:
www.qicuilab.org

X(Twitter): @CuiLab

Selected Publications

Hallaj S, Halfpenny W, Chuter BG, Weinreb RN, Baxter SL, Cui QN.: Association between Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists Exposure and Intraocular Pressure Change. Am J Ophthalmol 269: 255-265, Sep 2024.

Verma SS, Gudiseva HV, Chavali VRM, Salowe RJ, Bradford Y, Guare L, Lucas A, Collins DW, Vrathasha V, Nair RM, Rathi S, Zhao B, He J, Lee R, Zenebe-Gete S, Bowman AS, McHugh CP, Zody MC, Pistilli M, Khachatryan N, Daniel E, Murphy W, Henderer J; Regeneron Genetics Center; Kinzy TG, Iyengar SK, Peachey NS; VA Million Veteran Program; Taylor KD, Guo X, Chen YI, Zangwill L, Girkin C, Ayyagari R, Liebmann J, Chuka-Okosa CM, Williams SE, Akafo S, Budenz DL, Olawoye OO, Ramsay M, Ashaye A, Akpa OM, Aung T, Wiggs JL, Ross AG, Cui QN, Addis V, Lehman A, Miller-Ellis E, Sankar PS, Williams SM, Ying GS, Cooke Bailey J, Rotter JI, Weinreb R, Khor CC, Hauser MA, Ritchie MD, O'Brien JM.: A multi-cohort genome-wide association study in African ancestry individuals reveals risk loci for primary open-angle glaucoma. Cell 187(187): 464-480, Jan 2024 Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.006.

Lawrence ECN, Guo M, Schwartz TD, Wu J, Lu J, Nikonov S, Sterling JK, Cui QN.: Topical and systemic GLP-1R agonist administration both rescue retinal ganglion cells in hypertensive glaucoma. Front Cell Neurosci 17: 1156829, Jun 2023.

Sterling J, Hua P, Dunaief JL, Cui QN, VanderBeek BL. : Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist use is associated with reduced risk for glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol Aug 2021 Notes: QNC and BLV are co-senior author.

Sterling JK, Adetunji MO, Guttha S, Bargoud AR, Uyhazi KE, Ross AG, Dunaief JL, Cui QN.: GLP-1 Receptor Agonist NLY01 Reduces Retinal Inflammation and Neuron Death Secondary to Ocular Hypertension. Cell Rep 33: 108271, Nov 2020.

Cui QN, Hays RD, Tarver ME, Spaeth GL, Paz SH, Weidmer B, Fellman RL, Vold SD, Eydelman M, Singh K.: Vision-Targeted Health-Related Quality-of-Life Survey for Evaluating Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery. Am J Ophthalmol 229: 145-151, Apr 2021.

Guo M, Schwartz TD, Dunaief JL, Cui QN: Myeloid cells in retinal and brain degeneration. FEBS J 289(8): 2337-2361, Sep 2021.

Cui QN, Bargoud AR, Ross AG, Song Y, Dunaief JL: Oral administration of the iron chelator deferiprone protects against loss of retinal ganglion cells in a mouse model of glaucoma. Experimental eye research 193: 107961, Feb 2020.

Cui QN, Gray IN, Yu Y, VanderBeek BL: Repeated intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factors and risk of intraocular pressure medication use. Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie 257(9): 1931-1939, Sep 2019.

Cui QN, Hsia YC, Lin SC, Stamper RL, Rose-Nussbaumer J, Mehta N, Porco TC, Naseri A, Han Y: Effect of mitomycin c and 5-flurouracil adjuvant therapy on the outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. Clinical & experimental ophthalmology 45(2): 128-134, Mar 2017.

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Last updated: 11/04/2024
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