Charles M. Krafchak

Doctoral Pre-candidate

Phone: (734) 764-0059

Fax: (734) 647 0228

Research Interests

Charles M. Krafchak, M.P.H., is a graduate student working with Dr. Richards on his doctoral thesis in Epidemiologic Science through the School of Public Health. He is currently supported by the Genome Sciences Training Grant through the Center for Statistical Genetics at the School of Public Health and the Human Genome Research Institute in the National Institutes of Health.

His work to this point has focused mainly on linkage studies to identify loci that may be involved in glaucoma and other related eye diseases. He has also been involved in mutation screening of candidate glaucoma genes. His long term research goals involve using his training in both molecular and statistical genetics to more fully understand the complex etiology of common chronic diseases.

There are many genes with many different effects that influence an individual's susceptibility to glaucoma, with known environmental effects that complicate evaluation of factors contributing to phenotypic status. This makes glaucoma an excellent model system for training someone in strategies for the study of common, complex, chronic disease. In addition, this project will provide Charlie with a background in vision research, including providing a better understanding of ocular physiology and pathology as well as a variety of diagnostic factors and human subjects ethical issues that are important to the research. Currently ongoing work includes a genome scan for loci that cause or contribute to primary open-angle glaucoma, and mutation screening of glaucoma candidate gene NOS3.

Education

2002. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. School of Public Health, Epidemiologic Sciences PhD, thesis work in progress. Mentor: Julia E. Richards, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Glaucoma Research Center, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center.
2000 - 2002. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. School of Public Health, Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology MPH Master project: "Linkage of Posterior Polymorphous Dystrophy to 10p11 and Exclusion from the previously reported regions." Mentor: Julia E. Richards, PhD, Department of Epidemiology, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Glaucoma Research Center, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center.
1994 - 1999. University of Michigan, Dearborn, MI. Biological Sciences BS

Publications

Moroi, SE, Gokhale P, Schteingart M, Sugar A, Downs CA, Shimizu S, Krafchak C, Fuse N, Elner SG, Elner VM, Flint A, Epstein M, Boehnke M, Richards JE. Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy: An Unusual Retrocorneal Membrane on an Intraocular Lens in a Case with Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy (In Revision: American Journal of Ophthalmology).
Shimizu S, Fuse N, Krafchak C, MS, Gokhale P, Schteingart MT, Sugar A, Downs CA, Rozsa F, Elner SG, Elner VM, Flint A, Epstein M, Boehnke M, Moroi SE, Richards JE. A Second Locus for Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy (PPMD2) maps to Chromosome 10 (In preparation for submission to the American Journal of Human Genetics).
Fuse N, Krafchak CM, Downs CA, Moroi SE, Lichter PR, Richards JE. Evaluation of nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) as a candidate glaucoma gene. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2002; A3404 (Abstract).

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