Orson L. Moritz

B.Sc., Ph.D.
Associate Professor

I grew up in BC, and attended UBC for both undergraduate and graduate school, where I first developed an interest in photoreceptors. I then spent some time as a postdoc in the lab of Dr. David Papermaster at the UConn Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut, where I still have a lot of friends. It was in David Papermaster's lab that I first began working with transgenic X. laevis.

I'm very excited about the current research directions in my lab. Our experiments are helping us understand the underlying defects that lead to retinitis pigmentosa, and suggest that therapeutic interventions may be possible. We are starting some very interesting new research projects and collaborations.

I spend a lot of my time writing papers and grants, but I like to get into the lab to poke around, particularly to troubleshoot a new technique, or when I get an idea too crazy to waste other people's time on.

I like teaching, and I get pretty excited about my experiments. My favorite lab activity is to pass a few hours working on the confocal microscope.

When I'm not in the lab, I try to find time for hiking, skiing, cycling, playing jazz piano, gardening, and making my own wine.

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