PROFILE

October 20,2017

 DR. RALPH J. HAZLEWOOD II, PHD

     Dr. Ralph J. Hazlewood II, PhD, is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Growing up on the island of St. Croix, Dr. Hazlewood’s academic and personal journey has provided him with a strong and diverse background in leadership, mentoring and the study of molecular biology, genetics/genomics. He attended the University of the Virgin Islands graduating in 2006 with BSc in Biology. While there he studied genetics of a rare plant species indigenous to the US Virgin Islands which piqued his interest in research. After gathering some real world leadership experiences, Dr. Hazlewood joined the Genome Institute at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for a 1 year-fellowship in human genetics in 2008.

            Dr. Hazlewood obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Iowa in Genetics in 2015 studying a disease of the optic nerve called cavitary optic disc anomaly (CODA), which shares striking similarity to glaucoma. During his doctoral training, he identified the first CODA gene and its mechanism of action that leads to a robust increase in gene expression, with broad implications to the treatment of glaucoma. His current work focuses on repurposing existing FDA-approved drugs for new glaucoma treatments. As the only treatment for glaucoma is reducing buildup of intraocular pressure, Dr. Hazlewood is investigating the role of hypertension medications in regulating growth factor signaling and pressure buildup in the eye with goals of preventing cell death.