Scott M. Plafker, PhD

Biography

"The guiding principle of our research program is that diet and nutrition are the foundation of health and healthy aging. This means that food choices not only play a critical role in preventing and treating diseases but can also be an underlying cause of some ailments. We are particularly interested in understanding how diet contributes to diseases of the eye and how nutrition can be leveraged to prevent and treat vision loss. Our research focuses on two diseases that cause blindness: (1) age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and (2) the optic neuritis associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Both of these diseases can culminate in irreversible blindness and dramatically reduce the quality of life for patients.

We have two major projects in the lab currently. One aims to identify the beneficial effects of sulforaphane, a compound found in green, leafy vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale. Our studies are focused on determining the impact of sulforaphane on rejuvenating mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles in our cells that decrease in function with aging and are widely believed to play a causal role in AMD onset and progression. A second project focuses on comparing the impact of high versus low carbohydrate diets on the motor and visual symptoms of MS. This work is being done using a mouse model that mimics many of the cardinal symptoms experienced by MS patients.

It is our ultimate goal to empower patients with dietary information and practices that they can apply each day to improve and maintain their overall health and vision."

Email

plafkers@omrf.org

Publications

Research Interests:

• Define the mechanisms and immune cell populations underlying autoimmune demyelinating optic neuritis.
• Identify nutritional interventions that prevent or mitigate autoimmune diseases with a particular focus on disorders that impact vision.
• Identify the mechanisms by which dietary compounds modulate mitochondrial fusion and fission dynamics, cellular bioenergetics, and organismal sensitivity to different stressors.
• Characterize the anabolic and bioenergetic functions of the transcription factor, Nrf2.