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Muna Naash

TitleProfessor
InstitutionUniversity of Houston
DepartmentBiomedical Engineering
Address4800 Calhoun Rd
Houston TX 77004
Phone713-743-1651
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    Collapse Research 
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    R21EY033872     (NAASH, MUNA I.)Jun 1, 2023 - May 31, 2025
    NIH
    Vector engineering for non-viral delivery of large genomic DNA to the RPE
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01EY034671     (NAASH, MUNA I.)Jan 1, 2023 - Dec 31, 2026
    NIH
    Non-viral gene delivery platforms for the treatment of Usher Syndrome Type 2A.
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R56DC016947     (GELEOC, GWENAELLE S)Sep 1, 2019 - Aug 31, 2020
    NIH
    Gene Therapy of Usher Syndrome
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    R01EY026499     (NAASH, MUNA I.)Feb 1, 2017 - Jan 31, 2021
    NIH
    Role of retbindin in retinal homeostasis and diseases
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01EY022778     (NAASH, MUNA I.)Sep 30, 2012 - Sep 29, 2016
    NIH
    DNA nanoparticle formulations for optimal ocular gene delivery
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01EY018656     (NAASH, MUNA I.)Jan 1, 2008 - Aug 31, 2022
    NIH
    Compacted DNA Nanoparticles for Ocular Therapy
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R03EY016201     (NAASH, MUNA I)Sep 30, 2005 - Aug 31, 2008
    NIH
    Sustained, Non-viral Ocular Therapy Using Nanoparticles
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01EY010609     (NAASH, MUNA I.)Aug 1, 1995 - Nov 30, 2024
    NIH
    Mechanism of photoreceptor cell degeneration in animal models of retinal diseases
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R56EY010609     (NAASH, MUNA I)Aug 1, 1995 - Aug 31, 2009
    NIH
    Mechanism of photoreceptor cell degeneration in animal models of retinal diseases
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R55EY010609     (NAASH, MUNA I)Sep 30, 1994 - Jul 31, 1995
    NIH
    PHOTORECEPTORS
    Role: Principal Investigator
    F32EY006330     (NAASH, MUNA I)Aug 20, 1991
    NIH
    MOUSE MODELS FOR RETINAL DEGENERATIONS
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Zhao X, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Riboflavin, Retbindin, and Riboflavin Transporters in the Retina. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025; 1468:471-475. PMID: 39930240.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    2. Ikelle L, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. The PRPH2 D2 Loop: Biochemical Insights and Implications in Disease. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025; 1468:313-317. PMID: 39930215.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    3. Tebbe L, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. A Knockin Model with the Mouse Equivalent to the c.2299delG Mutation in Usherin Exhibits Early-Onset Hearing Loss and Progressive Retinal Degeneration. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2025; 1468:253-257. PMID: 39930205.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    4. Rutan Woods CT, Makia MS, Lewis TR, Crane R, Zeibak S, Yu P, Kakakhel M, Castillo CM, Arshavsky VY, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Author Correction: Downregulation of rhodopsin is an effective therapeutic strategy in ameliorating peripherin-2-associated inherited retinal disorders. Nat Commun. 2024 Jul 19; 15(1):6091. PMID: 39030161; PMCID: PMC11259568.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    5. Rutan Woods CT, Makia MS, Lewis TR, Crane R, Zeibak S, Yu P, Kakakhel M, Castillo CM, Arshavsky VY, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Downregulation of rhodopsin is an effective therapeutic strategy in ameliorating peripherin-2-associated inherited retinal disorders. Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 04; 15(1):4756. PMID: 38834544; PMCID: PMC11150396.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    6. Crane R, Makia MS, Zeibak S, Tebbe L, Ikele L, Woods CR, Conley SM, Acharya G, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Effective intravitreal gene delivery to retinal pigment epithelium with hyaluronic acid nanospheres. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2024 Jun 11; 35(2):102222. PMID: 38868364; PMCID: PMC11168490.
      Citations: 2     
    7. Tebbe L, Kakakhel M, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. The role of syntaxins in retinal function and health. Front Cell Neurosci. 2024; 18:1380064. PMID: 38799985; PMCID: PMC11119284.
      Citations: 1     
    8. Lewis TR, Makia MS, Castillo CM, Hao Y, Al-Ubaidi MR, Skiba NP, Conley SM, Arshavsky VY, Naash MI. ROM1 is redundant to PRPH2 as a molecular building block of photoreceptor disc rims. Elife. 2023 Nov 22; 12. PMID: 37991486; PMCID: PMC10665016.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. Crane R, Tebbe L, Mwoyosvi ML, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Expression of the human usherin c.2299delG mutation leads to early-onset auditory loss and stereocilia disorganization. Commun Biol. 2023 09 12; 6(1):933. PMID: 37700068; PMCID: PMC10497539.
      Citations: 1     Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    10. Ikelle L, Makia M, Lewis T, Crane R, Kakakhel M, Conley SM, Birtley JR, Arshavsky VY, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Correction: Comparative study of PRPH2 D2 loop mutants reveals divergent disease mechanism in rods and cones. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2023 Sep 12; 80(10):290. PMID: 37698644; PMCID: PMC10497654.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    
    11. Lewis TR, Makia MS, Castillo CM, Hao Y, Al-Ubaidi MR, Skiba NP, Conley SM, Arshavsky VY, Naash MI. ROM1 is redundant to PRPH2 as a molecular building block of photoreceptor disc rims. bioRxiv. 2023 Aug 29. PMID: 37693615; PMCID: PMC10491102.
      Citations:    
    12. Ikelle L, Makia M, Lewis T, Crane R, Kakakhel M, Conley SM, Birtley JR, Arshavsky VY, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Comparative study of PRPH2 D2 loop mutants reveals divergent disease mechanism in rods and cones. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2023 Jul 19; 80(8):214. PMID: 37466729; PMCID: PMC10356684.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    13. Tebbe L, Mwoyosvi ML, Crane R, Makia MS, Kakakhel M, Cosgrove D, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. The usherin mutation c.2299delG leads to its mislocalization and disrupts interactions with whirlin and VLGR1. Nat Commun. 2023 02 21; 14(1):972. PMID: 36810733; PMCID: PMC9944904.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    14. Lewis TR, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI, Arshavsky VY. The Role of Peripherin-2/ROM1 Complexes in Photoreceptor Outer Segment Disc Morphogenesis. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2023; 1415:277-281. PMID: 37440045.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Zhao X, Tebbe L, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. The Neuroprotective Role of Retbindin, a Metabolic Regulator in the Neural Retina. Front Pharmacol. 2022; 13:919667. PMID: 35873559; PMCID: PMC9298789.
      Citations: 2     
    16. Sinha T, Ikelle L, Makia MS, Crane R, Zhao X, Kakakhel M, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Riboflavin deficiency leads to irreversible cellular changes in the RPE and disrupts retinal function through alterations in cellular metabolic homeostasis. Redox Biol. 2022 08; 54:102375. PMID: 35738087; PMCID: PMC9233280.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    17. Tebbe L, Sakthivel H, Makia MS, Kakakhel M, Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Prph2 disease mutations lead to structural and functional defects in the RPE. FASEB J. 2022 05; 36(5):e22284. PMID: 35344225; PMCID: PMC10599796.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    18. Ikelle L, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Modulation of SOD3 Levels Is Detrimental to Retinal Homeostasis. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Oct 12; 10(10). PMID: 34679728; PMCID: PMC8533566.
      Citations: 4     
    19. Eblimit A, Makia MS, Strayve D, Crane R, Conley SM, Sinha T, Acharya G, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Co-Injection of Sulfotyrosine Facilitates Retinal Uptake of Hyaluronic Acid Nanospheres Following Intravitreal Injection. Pharmaceutics. 2021 Sep 18; 13(9). PMID: 34575586; PMCID: PMC8469555.
      Citations: 3     
    20. Crane R, Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Gene Therapy to the Retina and the Cochlea. Front Neurosci. 2021; 15:652215. PMID: 33815052; PMCID: PMC8010260.
      Citations: 10     
    21. Lewis TR, Makia MS, Castillo CM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI, Arshavsky VY. Photoreceptor Disc Enclosure Is Tightly Controlled by Peripherin-2 Oligomerization. J Neurosci. 2021 04 21; 41(16):3588-3596. PMID: 33707293; PMCID: PMC8055076.
      Citations: 11     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    22. Sinha T, Du J, Makia MS, Hurley JB, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Absence of retbindin blocks glycolytic flux, disrupts metabolic homeostasis, and leads to photoreceptor degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021 02 09; 118(6). PMID: 33526685; PMCID: PMC8017963.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    23. Genc AM, Makia MS, Sinha T, Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Retbindin: A riboflavin Binding Protein, Is Critical for Photoreceptor Homeostasis and Survival in Models of Retinal Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Oct 29; 21(21). PMID: 33138244; PMCID: PMC7662319.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    24. Strayve D, Makia MS, Kakakhel M, Sakthivel H, Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. ROM1 contributes to phenotypic heterogeneity in PRPH2-associated retinal disease. Hum Mol Genet. 2020 09 29; 29(16):2708-2722. PMID: 32716032; PMCID: PMC7530533.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Sinha T, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Flavins Act as a Critical Liaison Between Metabolic Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress in the Retina. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020; 8:861. PMID: 32984341; PMCID: PMC7481326.
      Citations: 7     
    26. Ikelle L, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Pluripotent Stem Cells for the Treatment of Retinal Degeneration: Current Strategies and Future Directions. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020; 8:743. PMID: 32923439; PMCID: PMC7457054.
      Citations: 9     
    27. Kakakhel M, Tebbe L, Makia MS, Conley SM, Sherry DM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Syntaxin 3 is essential for photoreceptor outer segment protein trafficking and survival. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 08 25; 117(34):20615-20624. PMID: 32778589; PMCID: PMC7456102.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    28. Lewis TR, Makia MS, Kakakhel M, Al-Ubaidi MR, Arshavsky VY, Naash MI. Photoreceptor Disc Enclosure Occurs in the Absence of Normal Peripherin-2/rds Oligomerization. Front Cell Neurosci. 2020; 14:92. PMID: 32410962; PMCID: PMC7198881.
      Citations: 6     
    29. Tebbe L, Kakakhel M, Makia MS, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. The Interplay between Peripherin 2 Complex Formation and Degenerative Retinal Diseases. Cells. 2020 03 24; 9(3). PMID: 32213850; PMCID: PMC7140794.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    30. Sinha T, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. The Symbiotic Relationship between the Neural Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Is Supported by Utilizing Differential Metabolic Pathways. iScience. 2020 Apr 24; 23(4):101004. PMID: 32252018; PMCID: PMC7132098.
      Citations: 19     
    31. Sinha T, Ikelle L, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. The Intersection of Serine Metabolism and Cellular Dysfunction in Retinal Degeneration. Cells. 2020 03 10; 9(3). PMID: 32164325; PMCID: PMC7140600.
      Citations: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Chakraborty D, Strayve DG, Makia MS, Conley SM, Kakahel M, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Novel molecular mechanisms for Prph2-associated pattern dystrophy. FASEB J. 2020 01; 34(1):1211-1230. PMID: 31914632; PMCID: PMC7592630.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    33. Conley SM, Stuck MW, Watson JN, Zulliger R, Burnett JL, Naash MI. Prph2 initiates outer segment morphogenesis but maturation requires Prph2/Rom1 oligomerization. Hum Mol Genet. 2019 02 01; 28(3):459-475. PMID: 30307502; PMCID: PMC6337695.
      Citations: 27     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    34. Sinha T, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Flavin Imbalance as an?Important Player in Diabetic Retinopathy. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019; 1185:575-579. PMID: 31884673.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Conley SM, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. The Role of the?Prph2 C-Terminus in Outer Segment Morphogenesis. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019; 1185:495-499. PMID: 31884660.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    36. Ikelle L, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Oxidative Stress, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Superoxide Dismutase 3. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019; 1185:335-339. PMID: 31884634.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Zulliger R, Conley SM, Mwoyosvi ML, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Oligomerization of Prph2 and Rom1 is essential for photoreceptor outer segment formation. Hum Mol Genet. 2018 10 15; 27(20):3507-3518. PMID: 29961824; PMCID: PMC6168975.
      Citations: 32     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    38. Sinha T, Makia M, Du J, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Flavin homeostasis in the mouse retina during aging and degeneration. J Nutr Biochem. 2018 12; 62:123-133. PMID: 30290331; PMCID: PMC7162609.
      Citations: 12     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    39. Agbaga MP, Merriman DK, Brush RS, Lydic TA, Conley SM, Naash MI, Jackson S, Woods AS, Reid GE, Busik JV, Anderson RE. Differential composition of DHA and very-long-chain PUFAs in rod and cone photoreceptors. J Lipid Res. 2018 09; 59(9):1586-1596. PMID: 29986998; PMCID: PMC6121944.
      Citations: 39     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    40. Kelley RA, Conley SM, Makkia R, Watson JN, Han Z, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. DNA nanoparticles are safe and nontoxic in non-human primate eyes. Int J Nanomedicine. 2018; 13:1361-1379. PMID: 29563793; PMCID: PMC5849385.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    41. Kelley RA, Al-Ubaidi MR, Naash MI. Retbindin Is Capable of Protecting Photoreceptors from Flavin-Sensitized Light-Mediated Cell Death In Vitro. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018; 1074:485-490. PMID: 29721980.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    42. Ikelle L, Naash MI, Al-Ubaidi MR. Role of Fibulins 2 and 5 in Retinal Development and Maintenance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018; 1074:275-280. PMID: 29721953.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    43. Zulliger R, Watson JN, Al-Ubaidi MR, Padegimas L, Sesenoglu-Laird O, Cooper MJ, Naash MI. Optimizing Non-viral Gene Therapy Vectors for Delivery to Photoreceptors and Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2018; 1074:109-115. PMID: 29721934.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    44. LaVail MM, Nishikawa S, Steinberg RH, Naash MI, Duncan JL, Trautmann N, Matthes MT, Yasumura D, Lau-Villacorta C, Chen J, Peterson WM, Yang H, Flannery JG. Phenotypic characterization of P23H and S334ter rhodopsin transgenic rat models of inherited retinal degeneration. Exp Eye Res. 2018 02; 167:56-90. PMID: 29122605; PMCID: PMC5811379.
      Citations: 38     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    45. Kelley RA, Al-Ubaidi MR, Sinha T, Genc AM, Makia MS, Ikelle L, Naash MI. Ablation of the riboflavin-binding protein retbindin reduces flavin levels and leads to progressive and dose-dependent degeneration of rods and cones. J Biol Chem. 2017 12 22; 292(51):21023-21034. PMID: 29079576; PMCID: PMC5743076.
      Citations: 15     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    46. Conley SM, Stuck MW, Watson JN, Naash MI. Rom1 converts Y141C-Prph2-associated pattern dystrophy to retinitis pigmentosa. Hum Mol Genet. 2017 02 01; 26(3):509-518. PMID: 28053051; PMCID: PMC6075606.
      Citations: 25     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    47. Chakraborty D, Conley SM, Zulliger R, Naash MI. The K153Del PRPH2 mutation differentially impacts photoreceptor structure and function. Hum Mol Genet. 2016 08 15; 25(16):3500-3514. PMID: 27365499; PMCID: PMC5179945.
      Citations: 17     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    48. Mitra RN, Nichols CA, Guo J, Makkia R, Cooper MJ, Naash MI, Han Z. Nanoparticle-mediated miR200-b delivery for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy. J Control Release. 2016 08 28; 236:31-7. PMID: 27297781; PMCID: PMC5328608.
      Citations: 17     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    49. Chakraborty D, Conley SM, Pittler SJ, Naash MI. Role of RDS and Rhodopsin in Cngb1-Related Retinal Degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2016 Mar; 57(3):787-97. PMID: 26934134; PMCID: PMC4777275.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    50. Stuck MW, Conley SM, Naash MI. PRPH2/RDS and ROM-1: Historical context, current views and future considerations. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2016 05; 52:47-63. PMID: 26773759; PMCID: PMC4842342.
      Citations: 62     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    51. Chakraborty D, Conley SM, DeRamus ML, Pittler SJ, Naash MI. Varying the GARP2-to-RDS Ratio Leads to Defects in Rim Formation and Rod and Cone Function. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 Dec; 56(13):8187-98. PMID: 26720471; PMCID: PMC4699412.
      Citations: 6     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    52. Zulliger R, Conley SM, Naash MI. Non-viral therapeutic approaches to ocular diseases: An overview and future directions. J Control Release. 2015 Dec 10; 219:471-487. PMID: 26439665; PMCID: PMC4699668.
      Citations: 20     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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