About Us

The research performed in Professor Narfström’s laboratory concerns mainly the characterization of hereditary retinal blinding diseases in animals that have their counterparts in humans. Clinical and laboratory studies in affected dogs and cats form the basis of her research. Ophthalmological, genetical, electrophysiological, and morphological descriptions of the disease processes are performed. Disease mechanisms are elucidated and, finally, treatment strategies are evaluated. The main goal of her studies is to find effective cures for hereditary retinal blinding disease for the affected animals and, ultimately, also for humans with comparable diseases. Further, safety issues are studied in the large animal models in order to prepare for human clinical studies.

Dr. Kristina Narfström

Kristina Narfström, DVM, PhD, and Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ECVO), is the Ruth M. Kraeuchi Missouri Endowed Professor of Veterinary Ophthalmology. She holds adjunct professorships at the Mason Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, and at the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her research work concerns primarily hereditary retinal disease processes of animal models, including retinal functional testing, using electroretinography. She is also engaged in comparative research concerning treatment modalities for hereditary retinal blinding diseases such as the use of gene therapy, stem cell implantation and retinal prosthetics. Narfström is cofounder and scientific director of RetVetCorp.

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