Ordan Lehmann
Adjunct Professor
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Dr. Ordan Lehmann is a professor of Ophthalmology, and Medical Genetics, at the University of Alberta. His clinical interests encompass the management of patients with glaucoma and inherited disease while his research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying ocular and neurogenetic disorders.
Over the last 15 years, Dr. Lehmann and his laboratory have used pediatric ocular disorders as entry-points for identifying molecular pathways important to a wider range of human disease. One example has been coloboma, where causative genes have been shown to result in a wider range of pediatric disorders, including Lebers Congenital Amaurosis and vertebral fusions. A second is Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome, and studies of this pediatric glaucoma subtype have identified novel molecular causes of CNS anomalies, corneal vascularisation as well as cerebrovascular disease.
Non-synonomous variants in PMEL cause ocular pigment disperion and pigmentary glaucoma. Lahola-Chomiak AA, Footz T, Nguyen-Phuoc K, Neil GJ, Fan B, Allen KF, Greenfield DS, Parrish RK, Linkroum K, Pasquale LR, Leonhardt RM, Ritch R, Javadiyan S, Craig JE, Ted Allison, Lehmann OJ, Walter MA, Wiggs JL. Human Molecular Genetics (2019)
Superior coloboma: a novel disease that reflects a newly discovered feature of ocular development. Hocking JC, Famulski J, Yoon KH, Widen SA, Bernsetin CS, Koch S, Weiss O, FORGE Canada, Consortium, Agarwala S, Inbal A, Lehmann OJ, Waskiewicz AJ. PLoS Genetics (2018)
Genetic Background-Dependent Role of Egr1 for Eyelid Development. Oh J, Wang Y, Chen S, Li P, Du N, Yu ZX, Butcher D, Gebregiorgis T, Strachan E, Lehmann OJ, Brooks BP, Chan CC, Leonard WJ. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017) 114: E7131-E7139
Identification of additional risk loci for stroke and small vessel disease: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies. Neurology Working Group of the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Consortium, Stroke Genetics Network, and International Stroke Genetics Consortium. Lancet Neurology (2016) 15:695-707
Mutation of transcription factors FOXC1and PITX2 causes cerebral small vessel disease. French CR, Seshadri S, Destefano AL, Fornage M, Arnold C, Gage PJ, Skarie JM, Dobyns WB, Millen KJ, Liu T, Dietz W, Kume T, Hofker M, Emery DJ, Childs S, Waskiewicz AJ, Lehmann OJ. Journal of Clinical Investigation (2014) 124:4877-81
We have continuous opportunities for bright, motivated and independent individuals with interests in cell biology, genetics and or neuroscience. Applicants at either the PhD or Post-doctoral level who possess excellent writing and laboratory skills, and wish to work in a cross-disciplinary team, are encouraged to apply by submitting a cover letter outlining their interests together with their CV and 3 references olehmann@ualberta.ca.
Available projects relate to the contribution of ciliary dysfunction to a breadth of pediatric and adult disease, with a particular focus on neurogenetic and ocular disorders. The lab benefits from stable funding, and is actively looking for exceptional trainees to help accelerate research progress.