Victor H. Guaiquil, PhD
Assistant Research Professor of Ophthalmology, Corneal Regenerative Medicine Laboratory University of Illinois College of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology
Biographical Info
Dr. Guaiquil’s current research is focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in angiogenesis and neurogenesis in the retina and cornea. Similar signaling mechanisms and growth factors are used in both processes in the eye that lead to profoundly distinct visual outcomes. For example, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activates the same receptors in endothelial and neuronal cells. In the newborn retina an excess of VEGF induces unwanted pathological neovascularization that left untreated might result in loss of vision or even blindness. While in the injured cornea VEGF promotes nerve regeneration, enhances the functional and trophic recovery, providing a better visual outcome. Dr. Guaiquil’s research elucidates these tissue specific effects which may lead to uncover new therapeutics to avoid vision loss. He is a Co-Investigator on the NEI supported R01 grant “Mechanisms of Corneal Nerve Repair.” Dr. Guaiquil joined the faculty in 2014
Education
BS—University Austral of Chile
MS—University Austral of Chile
PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology—State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, NY
Postdoctoral Fellow—Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Postdoctoral Fellow—Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY
Selected Publications
Expression of axon guidance ligands and their receptors in the cornea and trigeminal ganglia and their recovery after corneal epithelium injury. Guaiquil VH, Xiao C, Lara D, Dimailig G, Zhou Q. Exp Eye Res. 2022 Jun;219:109054. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2022.109054.PMID: 35427568
Vinaxanthone inhibits Semaphorin3A induced axonal growth cone collapse in embryonic neurons but fails to block its growth promoting effects on adult neurons. Ivakhnitskaia E, Chin MR, Siegel D, Guaiquil VH. Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 21;11(1):13019. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-
92375-w. PMID: 34155284.
Zhang M, Zhou Q, Luo Y, Nguyen T, Rosenblatt MI, Guaiquil VH. Semaphorin3A induces nerve regeneration in the adult cornea-a switch from its repulsive role in development. PLoS One. 2018. PMID:29370308.
Guaiquil VH, Pan Z, Karagianni N, Fukuoka S, Alegre G, Rosenblatt MI. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B selectively regenerates injured peripheral neurons and restores sensory and trophic functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2014 Dec 2;111(48):17272-7. PMID: 25404333
Guaiquil VH, Hewing NJ, Chiang MF, Rosenblatt MI, Chan RV, Blobel CP. A murine model for retinopathy of prematurity identifies endothelial cell proliferation as a potential mechanism for plus disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013 Aug 7;54(8):5294-302. PMID: 23833070.