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Simon Kaja, PhD

Dr. John P. and Theresa E. Mulcahy Endowed Professor in Ophthalmology; Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Molecular Pharmacology

Website to Kaja lab

Research Interests

  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Channelopathies
  • Drug Delivery
  • Eye Diseases
  • Glaucoma
  • Mathematical Modeling
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Pharmacotherapy

Publications/Research Listings

  • Rao VR, Iqbal S, Young BA, Mun C, Jain S, Kaja S. Attenuation of neutrophil adhesion and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps by pooled human immune globulins. Front Pharmacol. 2024 Dec 12;15:1465776. doi: 10.3389/fphar. 2024.1465776. PMID: 39734403.
  • Iqbal S, Ramini A, Kaja S. Impact of particulate matter and air pollution on ocular surface disease: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence. Ocul Surf. 2024 Dec 12;35:100-116. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2024.12.003. PMID: 39672270.
  • Kleinman D, Iqbal S, Ghosh AK, Ogle SD, Kaja S, Mitchnick M, Hakkarainen JJ. PLL-g-PEG Polymer Inhibits Antibody-Drug Conjugate Uptake into Human Corneal Epithelial Cells In Vitro. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther. 2024 Sep;40(7):419-427. doi: 10.1089/jop.2024.0019. Epub 2024 Jun 27. PMID: 38935528.
  • Kaja S, Iqbal S, Pons Lopez B, Molina Zaragoza S, Mun C, Flavin MT, Jain S. Safety and tolerability of pooled human immune globulins after topical ophthalmic administration in New Zealand White rabbits. Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2024 Sep;43(3):227-231. doi: 10.1080/15569527.2024.2381207. Epub 2024 Jul 31. PMID: 39086095; PMCID: PMC11383756.
  • Hariani HN, Ghosh AK, Rosen SM, Tso HY, Kessinger C, Zhang C, Jones WK, Sappington RM, Mitchell CH, Stubbs EB Jr, Rao VR, Kaja S. Lysyl oxidase like-1 deficiency in optic nerve head astrocytes elicits reactive astrocytosis and alters functional effects of astrocyte derived exosomes. Exp Eye Res. 2024 Feb 6;240:109813. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109813. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38331016. This is the result of a multi-institution collaboration spearheaded by Kaja lab with the Jones lab, UPenn, and Wake Forest investigating exosome mediated neuron glia signaling in ophthalmic neurodegenerative disease. 
  • Manikandan SK, Logan A, Cerrada-Gimenez M, Fitzhenry L, Coffey L, Kaja S, Rani S. Immune System, Inflammation and Autoantigens in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Pathological Significance and Therapeutic Importance. Life (Basel). 2023 Nov 21;13(12):2236. doi: 10.3390/life13122236. PMID: 38137838; PMCID: PMC10744676.
  • Hakkarainen,J. J.; Reinisalo,M.; Ragauskas,S.; Seppanen,A.; Kaja,S.; Kalesnykas,G.Acute cytotoxic effects of marketed ophthalmic formulations on human corneal epithelial cells International journal of pharmaceutics 2016 ;511(1):73-78
  • Richter,F.; Koulen,P.; Kaja,S.N-Palmitoylethanolamine Prevents the Run-down of Amplitudes in Cortical Spreading Depression Possibly Implicating Proinflammatory Cytokine Release Scientific reports 2016 ;6:23481
  • Means,J. C.; Gerdes,B. C.; Kaja,S.; Sumien,N.; Payne,A. J.; Stark,D. A.; Borden,P. K.; Price,J. L.; Koulen,P.Caspase-3-Dependent Proteolytic Cleavage of Tau Causes Neurofibrillary Tangles and Results in Cognitive Impairment During Normal Aging Neurochemical research 2016 ;41(9):2278-2288
  • Kaja,S.; Shah,A. A.; Haji,S. A.; Patel,K. B.; Naumchuk,Y.; Zabaneh,A.; Gerdes,B. C.; Kunjukunju,N.; Sabates,N. R.; Cassell,M. A.; Lord,R. K.; Pikey,K. P.; Poulose,A.; Koulen,P.Nampt/PBEF/visfatin serum levels: a new biomarker for retinal blood vessel occlusions Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2015 ;9:611-618
  • Kaja,S.; Sumien,N.; Shah,V. V.; Puthawala,I.; Maynard,A. N.; Khullar,N.; Payne,A. J.; Forster,M. J.; Koulen,P.Loss of Spatial Memory, Learning, and Motor Function During Normal Aging Is Accompanied by Changes in Brain Presenilin 1 and 2 Expression Levels Molecular neurobiology 2015 ;52(1):545-554
  • Rao,V. R.; Perez-Neut,M.; Kaja,S.; Gentile,S.Voltage-gated ion channels in cancer cell proliferation Cancers 2015 ;7(2):849-875
  • Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Naumchuk,Y.; Levy,D.; Zaidi,D. H.; Altman,A. M.; Nawazish,S.; Ghuman,J. K.; Gerdes,B. C.; Moore,M. A.; Koulen,P.Plate reader-based cell viability assays for glioprotection using primary rat optic nerve head astrocytes Experimental eye research 2015 ;138:159-166
  • Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Nielsen,E. O.; Thompson,C. L.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Koulen,P.; Snutch,T. P.Differential cerebellar GABAA receptor expression in mice with mutations in CaV2.1 (P/Q-type) calcium channels Neuroscience 2015 ;304:198-208
  • Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Patel,K. R.; Naumchuk,Y.; Koulen,P.Differential subcellular Ca2+ signaling in a highly specialized subpopulation of astrocytes Experimental neurology 2015 ;265:59-68
  • Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Singh,T.; Ghuman,J. K.; Sieck,E. G.; Koulen,P.An optimized lactate dehydrogenase release assay for screening of drug candidates in neuroscience Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods 2015 ;73:1-6
  • Payne,A. J.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Regulation of ryanodine receptor-mediated calcium signaling by presenilins Receptors & clinical investigation 2015 ;2(1):e449
  • Kaja,S.; Naumchuk,Y.; Grillo,S. L.; Borden,P. K.; Koulen,P.Differential up-regulation of Vesl-1/Homer 1 protein isoforms associated with decline in visual performance in a preclinical glaucoma model Vision research 2014 ;94:16-23
  • Payne,A. J.; Kaja,S.; Naumchuk,Y.; Kunjukunju,N.; Koulen,P.Antioxidant drug therapy approaches for neuroprotection in chronic diseases of the retina International journal of molecular sciences 2014 ;15(2):1865-1886
  • Nielsen,E. O.; Kaja,S.GABAA Receptor Expression in the Forebrain of Ataxic Rolling Nagoya Mice Biology and medicine (Aligarh) 2014 ;6(1):1000198
  • McCalley,A. E.; Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Koulen,P.Resveratrol and calcium signaling: molecular mechanisms and clinical relevance Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2014 ;19(6):7327-7340
  • Payne,A. J.; Kaja,S.; Sabates,N. R.; Koulen,P.A case for neuroprotection in ophthalmology: developments in translational research Missouri medicine 2013 ;110(5):429-436
  • Kaja,S.; Sumien,N.; Borden,P. K.; Khullar,N.; Iqbal,M.; Collins,J. L.; Forster,M. J.; Koulen,P.Homer-1a immediate early gene expression correlates with better cognitive performance in aging Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands) 2013 ;35(5):1799-1808
  • Payne,A. J.; Gerdes,B. C.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Insert sequence length determines transfection efficiency and gene expression levels in bicistronic mammalian expression vectors International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology 2013 ;4(4):201-208
  • Payne,A. J.; Gerdes,B. C.; Naumchuk,Y.; McCalley,A. E.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Presenilins regulate the cellular activity of ryanodine receptors differentially through isotype-specific N-terminal cysteines Experimental neurology 2013 ;250:143-150
  • Kaja,S.; Goad,D. L.; Ali,F.; Abraham,A.; Rebenitsch,R. L.; Teymoorian,S.; Krishna,R.; Koulen,P.Evaluation of tensile strength of tissue adhesives and sutures for clear corneal incisions using porcine and bovine eyes, with a novel standardized testing platform Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) 2012 ;6:305-309
  • Kaja,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Collins,J. L.; Shah,A. A.; Wawro,D.; Zimmerman,S.; Magnusson,R.; Koulen,P.Detection of novel biomarkers for ovarian cancer with an optical nanotechnology detection system enabling label-free diagnostics Journal of Biomedical Optics 2012 ;17(8):081412-081411
  • Kaja,S.; Mafe,O. A.; Parikh,R. A.; Kandula,P.; Reddy,C. A.; Gregg,E. V.; Xin,H.; Mitchell,P.; Grillo,M. A.; Koulen,P.Distribution and function of polycystin-2 in mouse retinal ganglion cells Neuroscience 2012 ;202:99-107
  • Burroughs,S. L.; Duncan,R. S.; Rayudu,P.; Kandula,P.; Payne,A. J.; Clark,J. L.; Koulen,P.; Kaja,S.Plate reader-based assays for measuring cell viability, neuroprotection and calcium in primary neuronal cultures Journal of neuroscience methods 2012 ;203(1):141-145
  • Chhablani,J.; Kaja,S.; Shah,V. A.Smartphones in ophthalmology Indian journal of ophthalmology 2012 ;60(2):127-131
  • Romero-Suarez,S.; Mo,C.; Touchberry,C.; Lara,N.; Baker,K.; Craig,R.; Brotto,L.; Andresen,J.; Wacker,M.; Kaja,S.; Abreu,E.; Dillmann,W.; Mestril,R.; Brotto,M.; Nosek,T.Hyperthermia: from diagnostic and treatments to new discoveries Recent patents on biotechnology 2012 ;6(3):172-183
  • Burroughs,S. L.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Quantification of deficits in spatial visual function of mouse models for glaucoma Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2011 ;52(6):3654-3659
  • Kaja,S.; Duncan,R. S.; Longoria,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Payne,A. J.; Desai,N. M.; Parikh,R. A.; Burroughs,S. L.; Gregg,E. V.; Goad,D. L.; Koulen,P.Novel mechanism of increased Ca2+ release following oxidative stress in neuronal cells involves type 2 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors Neuroscience 2011 ;175:281-291
  • Kaja,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Everett,E.; Olitsky,S. E.; Gossage,J.; Koulen,P.Effects of dilution and prolonged storage with preservative in a polyethylene container on Bevacizumab (Avastin) for topical delivery as a nasal spray in anti-hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia and related therapies Human antibodies 2011 ;20(3-4):95-101
  • Kaja,S.; Hilgenberg,J. D.; Rybalchenko,V.; Medina-Ortiz,W. E.; Gregg,E. V.; Koulen,P.Polycystin-2 expression and function in adult mouse lacrimal acinar cells Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2011 ;52(8):5605-5611
  • Garg,P.; Duncan,R. S.; Kaja,S.; Zabaneh,A.; Chapman,K. D.; Koulen,P.Lauroylethanolamide and linoleoylethanolamide improve functional outcome in a rodent model for stroke Neuroscience letters 2011 ;492(3):134-138
  • Kaja,S.; Van de Ven,R. C.; Broos,L. A.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; Van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Severe and progressive neurotransmitter release aberrations in familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 Cacna1a S218L knock-in mice Journal of neurophysiology 2010 ;104(3):1445-1455
  • Garg,P.; Duncan,R. S.; Kaja,S.; Koulen,P.Intracellular mechanisms of N-acylethanolamine-mediated neuroprotection in a rat model of stroke Neuroscience 2010 ;166(1):252-262
  • Duncan,R. S.; Goad,D. L.; Grillo,M. A.; Kaja,S.; Payne,A. J.; Koulen,P.Control of intracellular calcium signaling as a neuroprotective strategy Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) 2010 ;15(3):1168-1195
  • van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Pizzorusso,T.; Kaja,S.; Terpolilli,N.; Shapovalova,M.; Hoebeek,F. E.; Barrett,C. F.; Gherardini,L.; van de Ven,R. C.; Todorov,B.; Broos,L. A.; Tottene,A.; Gao,Z.; Fodor,M.; De Zeeuw,C. I.; Frants,R. R.; Plesnila,N.; Plomp,J. J.; Pietrobon,D.; Ferrari,M. D.High cortical spreading depression susceptibility and migraine-associated symptoms in Ca(v)2.1 S218L mice Annals of Neurology 2010 ;67(1):85-98
  • Plomp,J. J.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Kaja,S.The ataxic Cacna1a-mutant mouse rolling nagoya: an overview of neuromorphological and electrophysiological findings Cerebellum (London, England) 2009 ;8(3):222-230
  • Kaja,S.; Van De Ven,R. C.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; Van Den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Reduced ACh release at neuromuscular synapses of heterozygous leaner Ca(v)2.1-mutant mice Synapse (New York, N.Y.) 2008 ;62(5):337-344
  • Kaja,S.; van de Ven,R. C.; Broos,L. A.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Characterization of acetylcholine release and the compensatory contribution of non-Ca(v)2.1 channels at motor nerve terminals of leaner Ca(v)2.1-mutant mice Neuroscience 2007 ;144(4):1278-1287
  • Kaja,S.; van de Ven,R. C.; van Dijk,J. G.; Verschuuren,J. J.; Arahata,K.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Severely impaired neuromuscular synaptic transmission causes muscle weakness in the Cacna1a-mutant mouse rolling Nagoya The European journal of neuroscience 2007 ;25(7):2009-2020
  • van de Ven,R. C.; Kaja,S.; Plomp,J. J.; Frants,R. R.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Ferrari,M. D.Genetic models of migraine Archives of Neurology 2007 ;64(5):643-646
  • Kaja,S.; Hann,V.; Payne,H. L.; Thompson,C. L.Aberrant cerebellar granule cell-specific GABAA receptor expression in the epileptic and ataxic mouse mutant, Tottering Neuroscience 2007 ;148(1):115-125
  • Kaja,S.; Todorov,B.; van de Ven,R. C.; Ferrari,M. D.; Frants,R. R.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Redundancy of Cav2.1 channel accessory subunits in transmitter release at the mouse neuromuscular junction Brain research 2007 ;1143:92-101
  • Todorov,B.; van de Ven,R. C.; Kaja,S.; Broos,L. A.; Verbeek,S. J.; Plomp,J. J.; Ferrari,M. D.; Frants,R. R.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.Conditional inactivation of the Cacna1a gene in transgenic mice Genesis (New York, N.Y.: 2000) 2006 ;44(12):589-594
  • Kaja,S.; Van de Ven,R. C.; Ferrari,M. D.; Frants,R. R.; Van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Compensatory contribution of Cav2.3 channels to acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction of tottering mice Journal of neurophysiology 2006 ;95(4):2698-2704
  • Kaja,S.; van de Ven,R. C.; Broos,L. A.; Veldman,H.; van Dijk,J. G.; Verschuuren,J. J.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.; van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Plomp,J. J.Gene dosage-dependent transmitter release changes at neuromuscular synapses of CACNA1A R192Q knockin mice are non-progressive and do not lead to morphological changes or muscle weakness Neuroscience 2005 ;135(1):81-95
  • van den Maagdenberg,A. M.; Pietrobon,D.; Pizzorusso,T.; Kaja,S.; Broos,L. A.; Cesetti,T.; van de Ven,R. C.; Tottene,A.; van der Kaa,J.; Plomp,J. J.; Frants,R. R.; Ferrari,M. D.A Cacna1a knockin migraine mouse model with increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression Neuron 2004 ;41(5):701-710
  • Kaja,S.; Yang,S. H.; Wei,J.; Fujitani,K.; Liu,R.; Brun-Zinkernagel,A. M.; Simpkins,J. W.; Inokuchi,K.; Koulen,P.Estrogen protects the inner retina from apoptosis and ischemia-induced loss of Vesl-1L/Homer 1c immunoreactive synaptic connections Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2003 ;44(7):3155-3162