Research/Areas of Interest
The role of diet and nutrition in the development of age-related eye disease, particularly age-related macular degeneration
Education
- PhD, Genetics, Harvard University
- BSc, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, McMaster University, Canada
Biography
Dr. Sheldon Rowan, PhD, is a Scientist II in the Diet & Aging Brain, Sensory Systems directive at the HNRCA. Dr. Rowan studies how neuroimmune and neurovascular regulators commonly affect the retina and other parts of the central nervous system. His research focuses on carbohydrate quality and its mechanistic relationships to aging, metabolism, and the gut microbiome. Dr. Rowan's research utilizes animal disease models in order to study disease pathogenesis and to explore potential for nutrition and dietary based interventions, using genetic, biochemical, and cell biology approaches.
Dr. Rowan holds faculty positions at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, where Dr. Rowan is chair of the Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition program. He is a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine, and the American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Rowan has received numerous awards for his research contributions, including the Elizabeth Anderson Award for Macular Degeneration Research from the BrightFocus Foundation.