NTERI Interdisciplinary Seminar Series: Dr. Susmit Suvas Explores the Role of Inflammatory Hypoxia and Immune Cell Dynamics in Herpes Stromal Keratitis Development

We are pleased to announce that Susmit Suvas, Ph.D., will present a seminar as part of the North Texas Research Institute (NTERI) Interdisciplinary Seminar Series (ISS).

Date: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: IREB 260

The seminar is entitled “Impact of inflammatory hypoxia and immune cell localization on the development of herpes stromal keratitis“.

Dr. Susmit Suvas is a tenured Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI. Dr. Suvas is a herpes viral immunologist focusing on the immunity and immunopathogenesis of corneal Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) infection. His research is pivotal in understanding the severe clinical outcomes of corneal HSV-1 infection, notably the development of stromal opacity and new blood vessels in the infected cornea, a condition known as herpes stromal keratitis (HSK). HSK is a significant cause of infection-induced blindness in the United States. Dr. Suvas’s research has shed light on the dynamics of HSK development, noting that primary corneal HSV-1 infection does not typically cause HSK, but repeated infections can lead to its onset. His research questions the establishment of protective immunity in the cornea following primary infection and how recurrent infections might erode this immunity, increasing the risk of HSK. His ongoing laboratory research is focused on understanding the immunopathogenesis of HSK and the involvement of neuro-immune interactions in regulating the latency of HSV-1 infection. Dr. Suvas has authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers and review articles in high-impact journals, including Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science (IOVS), Journal of Immunology (J Immunol), The Ocular Surface (Ocular Surf), STAR Protocols (STAR Protoc), and Journal of Virology (J Virol). His research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2009, underscoring the significance and impact of his work on corneal HSV-1 infection.

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NTERI Interdisciplinary Seminar Series (ISS)