Rachel M. Huckfeldt, M.D., Ph.D.

Center/Research Area Affiliations

• Ocular Genomics Institute

Research Summary

Dr. Huckfeldt’s clinical research investigations have spanned retinoblastoma, choroidal neovascularization and inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Her current research uses multimodal retinal imaging including adaptive optics to probe the genotype-phenotype relationships associated with IRDs and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in particular. Her research has the potential to increase our understanding of RP and other inherited orphan retinal degenerations.

Select Publications

For a full list of publications, please see her CV.

Herzog ED, Huckfeldt RM. Circadian entrainment to temperature, but not light, in the isolated suprachiasmatic nucleus. J Neurophysiol. Aug 2003;90(2):763-770.

Schubert T, Huckfeldt RM, Parker E, Campbell JE, Wong RO. Assembly of the outer retina in the absence of GABA synthesis in horizontal cells. Neural Dev. 2010;5:15.

Huckfeldt RM, Vavvas DG. Neuroprotection for retinal detachment. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2013 Fall;53(4):105-17.

Cronin T, Vandenberghe LH, Hantz P, Juttner J, Reimann A, Kacsó AE, Huckfeldt RM, Busskamp V, Kohler H, Lagali PS, Roska B, Bennett J. Efficient transduction and optogenetic stimulation of retinal bipolar cells by a synthetic adeno-associated virus capsid and promoter. EMBO Mol Med. 2014;6(9):1175-1190.

Huckfeldt RM, Bennett J.  Promising first steps in gene therapy for choroideremia. Hum Gene Ther. 2014 Feb;25(2):96-7.

Education

2001           
BA, Biology and Psychology, summa cum laude, Washington University in St. Louis
2009
MD, Washington University in St. Louis
2009
PhD, Neuroscience, Washington University in St. Louis

Postgraduate Training

2009-2010
Internship, Newton-Wellesley Hospital
2010-2013
Residency, Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology
2013-2014
Post-doctoral Research Fellowship, Therapeutics for inherited retinal disease, University of Pennsylvania
2014-2015
Fellowship, Medical Retina, University of Iowa

Honors 

1997-2001: Washington University Lien Scholar
2001: Phi Beta Kappa
2001: Stern Award for Undergraduate Research; Washington University Department of Psychology
2009: Alpha Omega Alpha
2010: Newton-Wellesley Hospital Hospitalist Award for Excellence on the Medicine Service
2011: ARVO/NEI Travel Award
2012: Heed Resident Retreat Attendee