Ocular Surface Immunology and Transplantation Laboratory

Contact Us

Investigator / Contact Person Victor L. Perez Quinones, M.D.

Lab 305-335-4191

Office 305-291-4699

Email Vperez4@med.miami.edu

Victor L. Perez, M.D.

Principal Investigator
Biography: As the director of cornea research, Perez has set an ambitious agenda to advance care for patients with diverse eye conditions. This includes addressing ocular graft versus host disease and some patients’ rejection of corneal transplants. Dr. Perez is also researching ocular regeneration using genetic and cellular therapies to restore damaged corneas. This research aims to reverse blindness in such cases.

Daniel Adesse, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist
Biography: Dr. Adesse’s research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving infectious and inflammatory retinal disease, with particular emphasis on ocular and neuro-toxoplasmosis. His work spans retinal neuroimmunology, vascular dysfunction, host–pathogen interactions, and neurodegeneration, integrating clinically relevant models and patient-derived samples to advance translational research.

Luis F. Hernández Rodríguez, M.D.

Senior Scientist
Biography: Dr. Hernández is a senior scientist developing nanoanalysis techniques to find the metabolome and transcriptome of single cells and nanoliter sample volumes of organic fluids. His unique method of tear collection and analysis using capillary electrophoresis allows us to explore inflammatory biomarkers and correlate these biomarkers with clinical presentation.

Jose Echegaray, M.P.H.

Lab Manager
Biography: As Lab Manager, Jose facilitates the coordination and procurement of lab reagents, supplies, and animals. In addition, Jose manages the administrative duties of the lab, including, but not limited to, equipment conditions, lab meeting coordination, and any additional technicalities.

Ali Khodor, M.D.

Research Associate
Biography: Dr. Khodor obtained his medical degree in 2023 from the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut, Lebanon. He is currently a Research Fellow at the McKnight Vision Research Center and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, where he conducts clinical and translational research in ocular surface disease. His work focuses on corneal immunology, immune modulation, and nerve regeneration. His technical expertise includes high-throughput flow cytometry, in vivo confocal microscopy, murine corneal transplants and 3D image analysis. Dr Khodor has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed publications and has presented his work at major national and international ophthalmology conferences.

Leonardo de Castro, B.S., MSc

Research Associate
Biography: Leonardo holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and a Master’s degree in Biophysics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During his graduate studies, he was affiliated with the Department of Immunology, where he conducted research on host responses to infections and inflammatory processes. With over five years of laboratory experience, he currently serves as a research fellow at the McKnight Vision Research Center and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, contributing to investigations in the field of ocular biology.

Yasufumi Tomioka, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Associate
Biography: Yasufumi Tomioka graduated from the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine. He obtained his M.D. from the same university in March 2015. He obtained his Ph.D. in March 2025. In February 2025, he began working as a research fellow at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

Rosa Alvarado Villacorta, M.D.

Research Associate
Biography: Rosa graduated from the Universidad Nacional de Trujillo in Peru and completed her ophthalmology residency at the Instituto Nacional de Oftalmología. She also earned a master’s degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Dr. Alvarado specializes in corneal and ocular surface diseases, with advanced training in Mexico and Spain. She joined the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute as a Research Associate in 2025.

Carolina Moreira dos Santos, B.S., MSc

Research Associate
Biography: Carolina received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and her master’s degree in Neuroscience from Fluminense Federal University (Niterói, Brazil). During her master’s training, she developed projects using chick embryo retina models. Carolina is currently a PhD candidate in the Parasitic Biology Program at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). In 2024, she started as a research fellow at the McKnight Vision Research Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Her current work focuses on translational research in congenital and acquired ocular toxoplasmosis using mouse models, cell culture systems, and retinal organoids.

Gabriella Mezzich, B.S.

Research Assistant
Biography: Ms. Mezzich received her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Microbiology & Immunology from the University of Miami, Class of 2024. She began her research career through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute research program during her freshman year and later continued as an undergraduate researcher in biochemistry at the Miller School of Medicine. Gabriella is currently focused on ophthalmology research, studying corneal nerve regeneration and ocular surface disease through longitudinal evaluation of structural and functional changes in corneal nerve architecture across disease models. She is also involved in translational research evaluating and developing therapeutic drug approaches. She is currently working as a research assistant during her gap year while applying to medical school.

Hooman Ahmadzadeh, M.D.

Research Assistant
Biography: Hooman studied medicine at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. He further increased his skills in basic sciences and translational research by obtaining a Master’s degree in Vision Science and Investigative Ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. His thesis involved tear fluid sampling and analysis for discovery of biomarkers and treatment targets for ocular surface diseases. He has contributed to several peer-reviewed journal articles in the field of vision science and ophthalmology.

Amr Almobayed, M.D.

Research Assistant
Biography: Amr earned his medical degree from Cairo University. He joined the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute to advance his research in vision science with a focus on ocular surface diseases and corneal transplantation. Currently, Dr. Almobayed investigates corneal sensitivity and tear quality/quantity as part of the pathophysiology and treatment of ocular surface diseases, including inflammatory dry eye and ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD). Driven by a passion for restoring vision, Dr. Almobayed continues to explore how the molecular and cellular environment of the eye can be modulated to preserve and regenerate ocular tissues.

Luca Lucchino, M.D.

Research Fellow
Biography: Dr. Lucchino received his medical degree from Sapienza University of Rome and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the same institution, graduating with honors. He is currently a PhD student at Sapienza University of Rome and a Research Fellow in the Cornea and Ocular Surface group at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. His clinical and research interests focus on lamellar corneal surgery, corneal infections, inflammatory keratitis, and ocular surface diseases. He has extensive experience in advanced anterior segment imaging, including Anterior Segment OCT, AS-OCT Angiography, and In Vivo Confocal Microscopy, as well as in rare ocular and systemic diseases with ocular involvement.

Matthew Urban, B.A.

Research Fellow
Biography: Matthew received his bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Northwestern University in 2020 and enrolled at New York Medical College in 2022. He began his research career with Dr. Victor L Perez in 2015 studying limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) under the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) high school scholars’ program. Since matriculating to medical school, Matthew has assisted in basic science and clinical experiments at both the Foster Center for Ocular Immunology at Duke Eye Center and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. His research focuses on minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic measures to manage diseases of the ocular surface.

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Ocular Surface Immunology and Transplantation Laboratory