Faculty Appointments
Professor of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
Education
Ph.D., Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology , University of California, Santa Barbara, CaliforniaM.S., University of California, Santa Barbara, CaliforniaB.S., Biochemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
Office Address
2311 Pierce Avenue
Nashville, TN 37232
Nashville, TN 37232
Research Description
We study mechanisms underlying secondary neuronal degeneration after neurotrauma in the visual system. We also test the efficacy of therapeutic interventions including the use of viral-mediated gene therapy.
Research Keywords
Neurodegeneration, Neuroprotection, Neurotrauma, Vision, Optic Nerve
Publications
Vest V, Bernardo-Colón A, Watkins D, Kim B, Rex TS. Rapid Repeat Exposure to Subthreshold Trauma Causes Synergistic Axonal Damage and Functional Deficits in the Visual Pathway in a Mouse Model. J. Neurotrauma [print-electronic]. 2019 May 5/15/2019; 36(10): 1646-54. PMID: 30451083, PMCID: PMC6531903, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2018.6046, ISSN: 1557-9042.
Backstrom JR, Sheng J, Fischer RA, Sappington RM, Rex TS. Phenotypes of primary retinal macroglia: Implications for purification and culture conditions. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2019 May; 182: 85-92. PMID: 30902621, PMCID: PMC6504593, PII: S0014-4835(18)30898-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.03.008, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Bernardo-Colón A, Vest V, Cooper ML, Naguib SA, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. Progression and Pathology of Traumatic Optic Neuropathy From Repeated Primary Blast Exposure. Front Neurosci. 2019; 13: 719. PMID: 31354422, PMCID: PMC6637732, DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00719, ISSN: 1662-4548.
Bernardo-Colón A, Vest V, Clark A, Cooper ML, Calkins DJ, Harrison FE, Rex TS. Antioxidants prevent inflammation and preserve the optic projection and visual function in experimental neurotrauma. Cell Death Dis. 2018 Oct 10/26/2018; 9(11): 1097. PMID: 30367086, PMCID: PMC6203845, PII: 10.1038/s41419-018-1061-4, DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1061-4, ISSN: 2041-4889.
Bricker-Anthony C, D'Surney L, Lunn B, Hines-Beard J, Jo M, Bernardo-Colon A, Rex TS. Erythropoietin either Prevents or Exacerbates Retinal Damage from Eye Trauma Depending on Treatment Timing. Optom Vis Sci. 2017 Jan; 94(1): 20-32. PMID: 27281679, PMCID: PMC5206811, DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000898, ISSN: 1538-9235.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, D'Surney L, Rex TS. Erratum to: Exacerbation of blast-induced ocular trauma by an immune response. J Neuroinflammation. 2016 Aug 8/30/2016; 13(1): 220. PMID: 27576346, PMCID: PMC5006447, PII: 10.1186/s12974-016-0704-6, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0704-6, ISSN: 1742-2094.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, Rex TS. Eye-Directed Overpressure Airwave-Induced Trauma Causes Lasting Damage to the Anterior and Posterior Globe: A Model for Testing Cell-Based Therapies. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Jun; 32(5): 286-95. PMID: 26982447, PMCID: PMC4904234, DOI: 10.1089/jop.2015.0104, ISSN: 1557-7732.
Hines-Beard J, Bond WS, Backstrom JR, Rex TS. Virus-mediated EpoR76E gene therapy preserves vision in a glaucoma model by modulating neuroinflammation and decreasing oxidative stress. J Neuroinflammation. 2016 Feb 2/15/2016; 13: 39. PMID: 26876380, PMCID: PMC4753658, PII: 10.1186/s12974-016-0499-5, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0499-5, ISSN: 1742-2094.
Bond WS, Hines-Beard J, GoldenMerry YL, Davis M, Farooque A, Sappington RM, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. Virus-mediated EpoR76E Therapy Slows Optic Nerve Axonopathy in Experimental Glaucoma. Mol. Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Feb; 24(2): 230-9. PMID: 28135578, PII: S1525-0016(16)30329-X, DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.198, ISSN: 1525-0024.
Bond WS, Hines-Beard J, GoldenMerry YL, Davis M, Farooque A, Sappington RM, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. Virus-mediated EpoR76E Therapy Slows Optic Nerve Axonopathy in Experimental Glaucoma. Mol. Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Feb; 24(2): 230-9. PMID: 26502777, PMCID: PMC4817814, PII: S1525-0016(16)30329-X, DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.198, ISSN: 1525-0024.
Rex TS, Kasmala L, Bond WS, de Lucas Cerrillo AM, Wynn K, Lewin AS. Erythropoietin Slows Photoreceptor Cell Death in a Mouse Model of Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11(6): e0157411. PMID: 27299810, PMCID: PMC4907422, PII: PONE-D-16-12745, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157411, ISSN: 1932-6203.
Rex TS, Boyd K, Apple T, Bricker-Anthony C, Vail K, Wallace J. Effects of Repeated Anesthesia Containing Urethane on Tumor Formation and Health Scores in Male C57BL/6J Mice. J. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci. 2016; 55(3): 295-9. PMID: 27177562, PMCID: PMC4865690, ISSN: 1559-6109.
Guley NH, Rogers JT, Del Mar NA, Deng Y, Islam RM, D'Surney L, Ferrell J, Deng B, Hines-Beard J, Bu W, Ren H, Elberger AJ, Marchetta JG, Rex TS, Honig MG, Reiner A. A Novel Closed-Head Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using Focal Primary Overpressure Blast to the Cranium in Mice. J. Neurotrauma [print-electronic]. 2015 Dec 12/17/2015; PMID: 26414413, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2015.3886, ISSN: 1557-9042.
de Lucas Cerrillo AM, Bond WS, Rex TS. Safety and angiogenic effects of systemic gene delivery of a modified erythropoietin. Gene Ther [print-electronic]. 2015 May; 22(5): 365-73. PMID: 25716531, PMCID: PMC4425572, PII: gt201512, DOI: 10.1038/gt.2015.12, ISSN: 1476-5462.
Rex TS, Reilly MA, Sponsel WE. Elucidating the effects of primary blast on the eye [editorial]. Clin. Experiment. Ophthalmol. 2015 Apr; 43(3): 197-9. PMID: 25923380, PMCID: PMC5461916, DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12502, ISSN: 1442-9071.
Bricker-Anthony C, Rex TS. Neurodegeneration and Vision Loss after Mild Blunt Trauma in the C57Bl/6 and DBA/2J Mouse. PLoS ONE. 2015; 10(7): e0131921. PMID: 26148200, PMCID: PMC4493046, PII: PONE-D-15-11701, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131921, ISSN: 1932-6203.
Rex TS. Gene therapy to treat inherited and complex retinal degenerative diseases. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2015; 2: 15027. PMID: 26251841, PMCID: PMC4525775, PII: S2329-0501(16)30039-0, DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2015.27, ISSN: 2329-0501.
Rex TS. Delayed vision loss and therapeutic intervention after blast injury. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014 Dec 12/18/2014; 55(12): 8342. PMID: 25525189, PII: 55/12/8342, DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-16135, ISSN: 1552-5783.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, Rex TS. Molecular changes and vision loss in a mouse model of closed-globe blast trauma. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014 Aug; 55(8): 4853-62. PMID: 24994864, PMCID: PMC4123895, PII: iovs.14-14353, DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-14353, ISSN: 1552-5783.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, D'Surney L, Rex TS. Exacerbation of blast-induced ocular trauma by an immune response. J Neuroinflammation. 2014; 11: 192. PMID: 25472427, PMCID: PMC4264554, PII: s12974-014-0192-5, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-014-0192-5, ISSN: 1742-2094.
Bond WS, Rex TS. Evidence That Erythropoietin Modulates Neuroinflammation through Differential Action on Neurons, Astrocytes, and Microglia. Front Immunol. 2014; 5: 523. PMID: 25374571, PMCID: PMC4205853, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00523, ISSN: 1664-3224.
Heldt SA, Elberger AJ, Deng Y, Guley NH, Del Mar N, Rogers J, Choi GW, Ferrell J, Rex TS, Honig MG, Reiner A. A novel closed-head model of mild traumatic brain injury caused by primary overpressure blast to the cranium produces sustained emotional deficits in mice. Front Neurol. 2014; 5: 2. PMID: 24478749, PMCID: PMC3898331, DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2014.00002, ISSN: 1664-2295.
Hines-Beard J, Desai S, Haag R, Esumi N, D'Surney L, Parker S, Richardson C, Rex TS. Identification of a therapeutic dose of continuously delivered erythropoietin in the eye using an inducible promoter system. Curr Gene Ther. 2013 Aug; 13(4): 275-81. PMID: 23773177, PMCID: PMC4032115, PII: 53043, ISSN: 1875-5631.
Hines-Beard J, Marchetta J, Gordon S, Chaum E, Geisert EE, Rex TS. A mouse model of ocular blast injury that induces closed globe anterior and posterior pole damage. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2012 Jun; 99: 63-70. PMID: 22504073, PMCID: PMC3922065, PII: S0014-4835(12)00097-8, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2012.03.013, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Sullivan TA, Geisert EE, Templeton JP, Rex TS. Dose-dependent treatment of optic nerve crush by exogenous systemic mutant erythropoietin. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2012 Mar; 96(1): 36-41. PMID: 22306016, PMCID: PMC3350094, PII: S0014-4835(12)00031-0, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2012.01.006, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Sullivan TA, Geisert EE, Hines-Beard J, Rex TS. Systemic adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy preserves retinal ganglion cells and visual function in DBA/2J glaucomatous mice. Hum. Gene Ther [print-electronic]. 2011 Oct; 22(10): 1191-200. PMID: 21542676, PMCID: PMC3205793, DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.052, ISSN: 1557-7422.
Rex TS, Wong Y, Kodali K, Merry S. Neuroprotection of photoreceptors by direct delivery of erythropoietin to the retina of the retinal degeneration slow mouse. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2009 Nov; 89(5): 735-40. PMID: 19591826, PMCID: PMC2757459, PII: S0014-4835(09)00189-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2009.06.017, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Backstrom JR, Sheng J, Fischer RA, Sappington RM, Rex TS. Phenotypes of primary retinal macroglia: Implications for purification and culture conditions. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2019 May; 182: 85-92. PMID: 30902621, PMCID: PMC6504593, PII: S0014-4835(18)30898-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.03.008, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Bernardo-Colón A, Vest V, Cooper ML, Naguib SA, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. Progression and Pathology of Traumatic Optic Neuropathy From Repeated Primary Blast Exposure. Front Neurosci. 2019; 13: 719. PMID: 31354422, PMCID: PMC6637732, DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00719, ISSN: 1662-4548.
Bernardo-Colón A, Vest V, Clark A, Cooper ML, Calkins DJ, Harrison FE, Rex TS. Antioxidants prevent inflammation and preserve the optic projection and visual function in experimental neurotrauma. Cell Death Dis. 2018 Oct 10/26/2018; 9(11): 1097. PMID: 30367086, PMCID: PMC6203845, PII: 10.1038/s41419-018-1061-4, DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1061-4, ISSN: 2041-4889.
Bricker-Anthony C, D'Surney L, Lunn B, Hines-Beard J, Jo M, Bernardo-Colon A, Rex TS. Erythropoietin either Prevents or Exacerbates Retinal Damage from Eye Trauma Depending on Treatment Timing. Optom Vis Sci. 2017 Jan; 94(1): 20-32. PMID: 27281679, PMCID: PMC5206811, DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000898, ISSN: 1538-9235.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, D'Surney L, Rex TS. Erratum to: Exacerbation of blast-induced ocular trauma by an immune response. J Neuroinflammation. 2016 Aug 8/30/2016; 13(1): 220. PMID: 27576346, PMCID: PMC5006447, PII: 10.1186/s12974-016-0704-6, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0704-6, ISSN: 1742-2094.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, Rex TS. Eye-Directed Overpressure Airwave-Induced Trauma Causes Lasting Damage to the Anterior and Posterior Globe: A Model for Testing Cell-Based Therapies. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Jun; 32(5): 286-95. PMID: 26982447, PMCID: PMC4904234, DOI: 10.1089/jop.2015.0104, ISSN: 1557-7732.
Hines-Beard J, Bond WS, Backstrom JR, Rex TS. Virus-mediated EpoR76E gene therapy preserves vision in a glaucoma model by modulating neuroinflammation and decreasing oxidative stress. J Neuroinflammation. 2016 Feb 2/15/2016; 13: 39. PMID: 26876380, PMCID: PMC4753658, PII: 10.1186/s12974-016-0499-5, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-016-0499-5, ISSN: 1742-2094.
Bond WS, Hines-Beard J, GoldenMerry YL, Davis M, Farooque A, Sappington RM, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. Virus-mediated EpoR76E Therapy Slows Optic Nerve Axonopathy in Experimental Glaucoma. Mol. Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Feb; 24(2): 230-9. PMID: 28135578, PII: S1525-0016(16)30329-X, DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.198, ISSN: 1525-0024.
Bond WS, Hines-Beard J, GoldenMerry YL, Davis M, Farooque A, Sappington RM, Calkins DJ, Rex TS. Virus-mediated EpoR76E Therapy Slows Optic Nerve Axonopathy in Experimental Glaucoma. Mol. Ther [print-electronic]. 2016 Feb; 24(2): 230-9. PMID: 26502777, PMCID: PMC4817814, PII: S1525-0016(16)30329-X, DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.198, ISSN: 1525-0024.
Rex TS, Kasmala L, Bond WS, de Lucas Cerrillo AM, Wynn K, Lewin AS. Erythropoietin Slows Photoreceptor Cell Death in a Mouse Model of Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa. PLoS ONE. 2016; 11(6): e0157411. PMID: 27299810, PMCID: PMC4907422, PII: PONE-D-16-12745, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157411, ISSN: 1932-6203.
Rex TS, Boyd K, Apple T, Bricker-Anthony C, Vail K, Wallace J. Effects of Repeated Anesthesia Containing Urethane on Tumor Formation and Health Scores in Male C57BL/6J Mice. J. Am. Assoc. Lab. Anim. Sci. 2016; 55(3): 295-9. PMID: 27177562, PMCID: PMC4865690, ISSN: 1559-6109.
Guley NH, Rogers JT, Del Mar NA, Deng Y, Islam RM, D'Surney L, Ferrell J, Deng B, Hines-Beard J, Bu W, Ren H, Elberger AJ, Marchetta JG, Rex TS, Honig MG, Reiner A. A Novel Closed-Head Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using Focal Primary Overpressure Blast to the Cranium in Mice. J. Neurotrauma [print-electronic]. 2015 Dec 12/17/2015; PMID: 26414413, DOI: 10.1089/neu.2015.3886, ISSN: 1557-9042.
de Lucas Cerrillo AM, Bond WS, Rex TS. Safety and angiogenic effects of systemic gene delivery of a modified erythropoietin. Gene Ther [print-electronic]. 2015 May; 22(5): 365-73. PMID: 25716531, PMCID: PMC4425572, PII: gt201512, DOI: 10.1038/gt.2015.12, ISSN: 1476-5462.
Rex TS, Reilly MA, Sponsel WE. Elucidating the effects of primary blast on the eye [editorial]. Clin. Experiment. Ophthalmol. 2015 Apr; 43(3): 197-9. PMID: 25923380, PMCID: PMC5461916, DOI: 10.1111/ceo.12502, ISSN: 1442-9071.
Bricker-Anthony C, Rex TS. Neurodegeneration and Vision Loss after Mild Blunt Trauma in the C57Bl/6 and DBA/2J Mouse. PLoS ONE. 2015; 10(7): e0131921. PMID: 26148200, PMCID: PMC4493046, PII: PONE-D-15-11701, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131921, ISSN: 1932-6203.
Rex TS. Gene therapy to treat inherited and complex retinal degenerative diseases. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2015; 2: 15027. PMID: 26251841, PMCID: PMC4525775, PII: S2329-0501(16)30039-0, DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2015.27, ISSN: 2329-0501.
Rex TS. Delayed vision loss and therapeutic intervention after blast injury. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014 Dec 12/18/2014; 55(12): 8342. PMID: 25525189, PII: 55/12/8342, DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-16135, ISSN: 1552-5783.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, Rex TS. Molecular changes and vision loss in a mouse model of closed-globe blast trauma. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014 Aug; 55(8): 4853-62. PMID: 24994864, PMCID: PMC4123895, PII: iovs.14-14353, DOI: 10.1167/iovs.14-14353, ISSN: 1552-5783.
Bricker-Anthony C, Hines-Beard J, D'Surney L, Rex TS. Exacerbation of blast-induced ocular trauma by an immune response. J Neuroinflammation. 2014; 11: 192. PMID: 25472427, PMCID: PMC4264554, PII: s12974-014-0192-5, DOI: 10.1186/s12974-014-0192-5, ISSN: 1742-2094.
Bond WS, Rex TS. Evidence That Erythropoietin Modulates Neuroinflammation through Differential Action on Neurons, Astrocytes, and Microglia. Front Immunol. 2014; 5: 523. PMID: 25374571, PMCID: PMC4205853, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00523, ISSN: 1664-3224.
Heldt SA, Elberger AJ, Deng Y, Guley NH, Del Mar N, Rogers J, Choi GW, Ferrell J, Rex TS, Honig MG, Reiner A. A novel closed-head model of mild traumatic brain injury caused by primary overpressure blast to the cranium produces sustained emotional deficits in mice. Front Neurol. 2014; 5: 2. PMID: 24478749, PMCID: PMC3898331, DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2014.00002, ISSN: 1664-2295.
Hines-Beard J, Desai S, Haag R, Esumi N, D'Surney L, Parker S, Richardson C, Rex TS. Identification of a therapeutic dose of continuously delivered erythropoietin in the eye using an inducible promoter system. Curr Gene Ther. 2013 Aug; 13(4): 275-81. PMID: 23773177, PMCID: PMC4032115, PII: 53043, ISSN: 1875-5631.
Hines-Beard J, Marchetta J, Gordon S, Chaum E, Geisert EE, Rex TS. A mouse model of ocular blast injury that induces closed globe anterior and posterior pole damage. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2012 Jun; 99: 63-70. PMID: 22504073, PMCID: PMC3922065, PII: S0014-4835(12)00097-8, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2012.03.013, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Sullivan TA, Geisert EE, Templeton JP, Rex TS. Dose-dependent treatment of optic nerve crush by exogenous systemic mutant erythropoietin. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2012 Mar; 96(1): 36-41. PMID: 22306016, PMCID: PMC3350094, PII: S0014-4835(12)00031-0, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2012.01.006, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Sullivan TA, Geisert EE, Hines-Beard J, Rex TS. Systemic adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy preserves retinal ganglion cells and visual function in DBA/2J glaucomatous mice. Hum. Gene Ther [print-electronic]. 2011 Oct; 22(10): 1191-200. PMID: 21542676, PMCID: PMC3205793, DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.052, ISSN: 1557-7422.
Rex TS, Wong Y, Kodali K, Merry S. Neuroprotection of photoreceptors by direct delivery of erythropoietin to the retina of the retinal degeneration slow mouse. Exp. Eye Res [print-electronic]. 2009 Nov; 89(5): 735-40. PMID: 19591826, PMCID: PMC2757459, PII: S0014-4835(09)00189-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2009.06.017, ISSN: 1096-0007.
Available Postdoctoral Position Details
Posted: 10/8/2012
Postdoctoral position available to study gene delivery and neuroprotection in mouse models of retinal degenerative disease. Expertise in molecular biology and mouse models is highly desirable.
Postdoctoral position available to study gene delivery and neuroprotection in mouse models of retinal degenerative disease. Expertise in molecular biology and mouse models is highly desirable.