Margaret M. DeAngelis M.S., Ph.D

Margaret DeAngelis

Margaret M. DeAngelis
M.S., Ph.D

Endowed Chair Professor Department of Ophthalmology

Department of Ophthalmology

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Contact Information
Jacobs School of Medicine/SUNY/University at Buffalo/South Campus, Room 245, Biomedical Research Building, 3435 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
Not Hispanic or Latino, New York 14214
Phone: no phone has been provided
Fax: n/a
mmdeange@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

Dr. DeAngelis’ program of research utilizes a systems-biology-based approach to understand disease mechanisms in both Mendelian and complex blinding conditions, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertensive retinopathy; and co-segregating conditions (Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes). This translational research is funded by the NIH, private foundations, and the pharmaceutical industry. She is ultimately focused on identifying mechanisms and potential targets for treatment in these disease areas, across their stages of development.

To enhance translational efforts, her laboratory and colleagues have created a well-characterized fresh human donor eye bank of ocular tissue, blood, serum, and plasma. Using this resource, contrasting healthy eyes with diseased eyes (deeply phenotyped) has helped delineate potential disease mechanisms. Dr. DeAngelis leverages genomic approaches including, single-cell RNASeq, miRNAseq, bulk RNA-Seq, single nuclei ATAC-Seq, allele-specific expression, epigenetic and statistical/bioinformatics tools to functionally characterize disease mechanisms. She has published the only standardized phenotyping protocol for human donor eyes specifically used for biochemical and molecular studies. The success of the eye bank is dependent on close collaboration with several board-certified ophthalmologists and fellowship-trained specialists.

Dr. DeAngelis has extensive experience in leading scientific teams for patient ascertainment and recruitment in ethnically diverse vulnerable patient populations within the United States and globally. This research effort includes genetic and epidemiological studies of blinding diseases on the reservations of the federally recognized Native American tribes of the intermountain west. She has also worked with the Mayan population of Salma, Guatemala for genetic epidemiologic factors driving cataract, glaucoma, and pseudoexfoliation syndrome. The success of these studies has been in large part dependent on collaboration across disciplines, and significant community outreach and engagement to inform design and appreciation of the clinical/public health implications of the work.

Dr. DeAngelis is committed to and has extensive experience teaching and mentoring the next generation of scientists and clinician-scientists. She is a mentor and advisor to undergraduates, graduate students, medical students, fellows, and junior faculty. She teaches classes for neuroscience, human genetics, ophthalmology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and epidemiology. She actively works to foster inclusion and diversity in her work and is a passionate advocate for women and minority voices to be heard and valued in science.

Dr. DeAngelis has over 100 publications, serves on several journal editorial boards, and serves on the steering/leadership committee for the International AMD Genetics Consortium, sponsored by the NEI/NIH; and also the Scientific Oversight Committee for The Global Eye Genetics Consortium (NEI/NIH). She also chairs/serves on several NIH study section review panels, the Department of Defense, and foundation grant review panels.

Education and Training:

  • Certificate, statistics, Rockefeller University (2004)
  • Fellowship, Human genetics, statistics, bioinformatics, ophthalmology, epidemiology, Harvard Medical School/MEEI (2003)
  • PhD, Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (1999)
  • MS, Physiology, Medical College of Virginia (1993)

Employment:

  • Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Harvard Medical School (2007–2010)
  • Instructor, Ophthalmology, Massachussets Eye and Ear Infiramary Harvard Medical School (2003–2007)

Awards and Honors:

  • Silver Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (2024)
  • Sigma Xi (2021)

Research Expertise:

  • Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • May 2020–July 2025
    Epigenetic Architecture of the RPE and Choroid: Identification of Therapeutic Targets For AMD
    Macular Degeneration Foundation, Inc
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $500,000
  • February 2022–January 2025
    Pediatric network for the human cell atlas in the eye
    Chan-Zuckerberg
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $517,500
  • February 2022–January 2025
    Ancestry Network for the human cell atlas in the eye
    Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $536,859
  • –January 2025
    Deconstructing and modeling the single cell architecture of the age-related macular degeneration retina
    NEI/NIH
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $1,822,713
  • June 2021–December 2023
    Single nucleus chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic characterization of Age-related macular degeneration
    Genentech, Inc
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $1,127,213
  • October 2020–October 2023
    Generation of a human cell neural retina atlas with single cell RNA Seq
    Chan-Zuckerberg
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $345,621

Journal Articles:

See all (93 more)

Presentations:

  • "Understanding the Genetics of Glaucoma Medication Non-Adherence" Science Spotlight” Department of Ophthalmology Grand Rounds, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Flaum Eye Institute, Rochester, NY (2023)
  • "Sole Moderator for the Omics section" 6th Biennial International Symposium on Age Related Macular Degeneration at Harvard Medical School (2023)
  • "A Systems Biology Approach Supports a Role for HTRA1 in Age-related Macular Degeneration" Association for Vision and Ophthalmology Special Interest Group: “Exploring the contributions of ARMS2 and HTRA1 genetic risk factors in age-related macular degeneration (2023)
  • "Elucidating Disease Mechanisms in Blinding Conditions: The Power of Leveraging Donor Eye Tissue & Diverse Populations" Genentech, Inc., San Francsico, CA. (2023)
  • "Neuroscience Research into Blinding Conditions" ; Minority Mentorship Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Flaum Eye Institute, Rochester, NY (2023)
  • "Overview of My Trajectory and Research in Blinding Conditions" The Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the Biosciences (CLIMB) Program, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Buffalo, NY (2023)
  • "A Systems Biology Approach Uncovers Novel Genomic Mechanisms in Age-Related Macular Degeneration" Ophthalmology Research Day, Department of Ophthalmology, Ross Eye Institute, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences-SUNY-University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY (2023)
  • "Ancestry Network for the Human Cell Atlas in the Eye: Community Engagement Plan and Learnings" Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) (2023)
  • "Epigenetics and the Healthy Eye: Development, Aging and Therapeutics" International Society for Eye Research (2023)
  • "Epigenetics as a Driver of Ocular Disease: Clinical Advances and Challenges," International Society for Eye Research (2023)
  • "Leveraging a Donor Eye Repository to Elucidate the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Age-related Macular Degeneration, Genome," Genome, Environment and Microbiome Community of Excellence, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences-SUNY-University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY (2022)
  • "Increasing Diversity of Participants in Genetic Epidemiologic Research Helps Address Health Inequity" Seminar Series, School of Public Health and Health Professions, SUNY-University at Buffalo (2021)
  • "Leveraging allele-specific expression as therapeutic targets for age-related macular degeneration" Biochemistry Seminar Series, SUNY-University of Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine (2021)
  • "Systems biology based approach reveals epigenetic mechanisms in ocular disease" ARVO SYMPOSIA: Epigenomics and personalized Medicine: Across the globe (2021)
  • "Informing Ocular Drug development through Genomics" Private Industry invited presentation AbbVie/Allergan, (2021)
  • "Multi-omic approaches to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AMD" 10th Annual Meeting of Iranian Research Association for Vision and Ophthalmology, Iranian Society of Ophthalmology (2021)
See all (6 more)

Service Activities:

  • Faculty senate Executive committee Member; member (2024)
  • Faculty Judge for Poster Presenters, Neuroscience Research Day, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Faculty Judge for Poster Presenters, (2023)
  • Research and Creative Activities Committee- SUNY-University at Buffalo; member of a committee of 5 (2023–present)
  • Steering Committee for Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Member, Steering Committee for Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2023–present)
  • Faculty Council Standing Committee: Election and Bylaws; Member, Faculty Council Standing Committee: Election and Bylaws (2023–present)
  • Faculty Senate; member (2023–present)
  • Promotions and Tenure; member (2023–2025)
  • Medical School Appeals Committee, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Ad-hoc committee member as needed (2023–present)
  • KL2, Steering Committee, University at Buffalo, Clinical and Translational Science Institute Award (sponsored by the NIH to train junior faculty towards independence as clinical translational researchers); Member, KL2, Steering Committee, (2023–present)
  • Member, Ethics and Regulations in Human Research Committee, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology; member (2023–2026)
  • Joseph Robert Love Scholastic Leadership Awards (recognizes inspirational leadership by an individual or a group of medical students for groundbreaking service and dedication to advancing the Jacobs School’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and social justice — leading to a culturally competent learning environment across disciplines. SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Member, Selection Committee and task force, Joseph Robert Love Scholastic Leadership Awards (2023–present)
  • Faculty Facilitator, 1st Annual JSMBS Community Research Day (poster presentations from Undergraduate, Graduate, and Medical Students, Postdoctoral Scholars, Residents, Fellows, and Faculty.; Faculty Facilitator (2023)
  • Faculty Preceptor for Junior Clinical Faculty (Assistant Professor) for the Jacobs Educator Excellence Program, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Faculty Preceptor (2023)
  • Faculty Search Committee, Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Member, Faculty Search Committee (2023)
  • Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs: Civic/Community Engaged Research Initiatives at University at Buffalo; member (2023–present)
  • Residency Candidate Interview Committee, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; Interviewer (2022)
  • Residency Candidate Interview Committee, Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY; interviewer (2022)
  • Faculty Judge for Poster Presenters, Neuroscience Research Day, SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Faculty Judge for Poster Presenters (2022)
  • CLIMB-PRO/CLIMB-UP Program (undergraduate aspiring for MD, PhD, and/or MD/PhD program), SUNY-University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; MENTOR (2022–present)
  • Member, Ad-Hoc Diversity, Inclusion, and Learning Environment – Bias Advisory Team (DIALE-BAT) Revisions Committee; Member, Ad-Hoc Diversity, Inclusion, and Learning Environment – Bias Advisory Team (DIALE-BAT) Revisions Committee (2022)
  • Primary representative for Program in Neuroscience Admissions Committee, PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences; Primary representative for the Neuroscience Program to screen applications and interview applicants for admission into PBBS (2022–present)
  • Faculty Council Standing Committee, Medical Curriculum Revision Committee, SUNY-University of Buffalo; Member (2021–2024)
  • UUP-AMPC, Health Science Centers Concerns Subcommittee Meeting; member (2021–present)
  • Journal of Translational Genetics and Genomics, Alhambra, CA; member of editorial board (2021–present)
  • Nature Biology Communications; reviewer (2021–present)
  • Reviewer for 15 Department of Defense study sections; reviewer (only including service since 2021) (2021–present)
  • Nature Communications; reviewer for 3 papers, only including for the year 2021 (2021–present)
  • Residency candidate interviews for the Department of Ophthalmology; interviewer (2020)
  • attend all meetings for the SEC and faculty council take minute meetings for approval at the following meeting; Secretary for the faculty council steering committee (2020–2022)
  • PRODiG faculty member and mentor (Promoting Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity and Inclusion and Growth Initiative) SUNY system; member (2020–present)
  • Journal of Clinical Medicine, Basel, Switzerland Switzerland; Section Editor in Chief, Ophthalmology (2020–present)
  • Exploration of Medicine, New York, NY; Section editor head for Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology (2019–present)
  • The Global Eye Genetics Consortium; Member Scientific Oversight Committee (2019–present)
  • This committee is designed to provided support and career mentorship to other women particularly trainees and junior faculty in vision reserach; Member, WEAVR Leadership Committee, ARVO (2019–present)
  • Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, Lausanne, Switzerland; Associate Editor (2018–present)
  • Mentor women throughout the year trainees and junior faculty over zoom and in person during the ARVO meeting; Mentor, Drop-in Mentoring Sessions, Women and Eye and Vision Research (WEAVR) Association for Vision in Research and Ophthalmology (2018–present)
  • Annals of Eye Science, Singapore; member of the editorial board (2018–present)
  • Journal of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Auckland, New Zealand; member of editorial board (2016–present)
  • Reviewing for this private foundations grant applications and review of progress reports of continued funding. The funding agency supports work on age-related macular degeneration; Review Board panel and review of progress reports on off years. Submission of grants is every other year (2014–present)
  • BMC Medical Genomics, London, United Kingdom; member editorial board (2013–present)
  • PLoS One, San Francisco, CA; member of the editorial board (2012–present)
  • International Consortium for Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM; sponsored by the NEI/NIH), Bethesda, MD; Executive Committee Member (2012–present)
  • An internationally elected position Organize, Plan experiments and collaboration for the International Genomics Age-related Macular Degeneration Gene Consortium (sponsored by the NEI/NIH), Bethesda, MD; Senior Executive Committee/Steering Committee Member (2011–present)
  • Australia Macular Degeneration Foundation Research Peer Review Panel, Sydney, Australia; member (2010–present)
  • NIH; Peer reviewer as ad hoc member for several study sections . Have at times served as chair or co-chair (2010–present)

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Contact Information

Jacobs School of Medicine/SUNY/University at Buffalo/South Campus, Room 245, Biomedical Research Building, 3435 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
Not Hispanic or Latino, New York 14214
Phone: no phone has been provided
Fax: n/a
mmdeange@buffalo.edu