Gladys Ko

Short Bio

After getting my B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Anatomical Sciences in Taiwan, I flied across the Pacific to Ohio, US to get more advanced research training. I obtained my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a major in Neuroscience and a minor in Pharmacology, and my dissertation focused on the mechanisms of anti-epileptic drugs in the brain.  I continued to pursue research in the brain synaptic plasticity during my first postdoctoral training, followed by a complete research switch to study how circadian clock regulates the retinal photoreceptors.  After coming to Texas A&M, I continued to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the circadian regulation of retina physiology.  Interestingly, a lot of these molecules under the circadian control are changed by the disease states, so my laboratory expanded our research to investigate various eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, and macular degeneration.  During this time, my laboratory discovered an endogenous peptide, “peptide Lv”.  Peptide Lv is able to augment the function of photoreceptors and cardiomyocytes.  In addition, peptide Lv promotes developmental and pathological angiogenesis.  Thus, my laboratory has two major lines of research: 1. Discovery of disease-mechanisms and potential treatments of retinopathies; 2. Continued Investigation on the action of peptide Lv and its implications in health and diseases.

Websites

Center for Biological Clocks Research

Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience

Texas A&M Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience

Texas A&M Nutrition Obesity Research Center

Education

BS    National Chang-Kung University, Taiwan, 1989

MS    National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taiwan, 1991

PhD   Kent State U. affiliated w/ N.E. Ohio U Col. Med, 1996

Honors and Awards

Texas A&M University Institute for Neuroscience Service Award, from TAMIN, TAMU and Health Science Center, 2013-2014.

Montague Scholar for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, TAMU, 2007.

NIH Individual National Research Service Award, Sep. 2001 – July, 2004.

Professional Organizations

International Society for Eye Research

European Biological Rhythms Society

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Society for Neuroscience

American Heart Association

American Physiological Society

Service

External/Professional/National/International:

Mentor, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Global Mentorship Program; 2017-2018. 

Neuroscientist-Teacher Partner Program of Society for Neuroscience (SfN); 2007-2018. 

President, Texas A&M Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN-TAMU); 2013-2014.

Councilor (elected), Texas A&M Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN-TAMU); 2009 – 2013; 2015-2019. 

University Level:

Faculty Advisor, American Student Association (TASA), 8/2022-current.

Executive Committee Member, Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience (TAMIN); 9/2017-11/2019; 9/2020-9/2025.

Chair, Graduate Program Committee, TAMIN; 9/2017 – 11/2019; 9/2023 – 12/2025.

Chair, Undergraduate Program Committee, TAMIN; 9/2020-9/2022.

Committee Member, Graduate Program Committee, TAMIN; 2007 – 8/2017; 9/2019-8/2023; 1/2026-current.

Committee Member, Expended Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for Neuroscience Majors (representing CVMBS); 10/2017-9/2019.

Committee Member, Undergraduate Program Committee, TAMIN; 2007 – 9/2020.

Executive Committee Member, Texas A&M Nutrition Obesity Research Center (TAMNORC); 9/2014-2016.

College Level:

Co-Leader, Physiology & Developmental Biology Track, Graduate Instruction Committee, CVMBS, 6/2024-current.

CVM and VIBS co-representative, Neuroscience-Translational and Preclinical (NRSC-TPC) undergraduate majors; 2020-7/2022.

Champion for Taiwan-TAMU relationship, International Program at CVMBS-TAMU, 2017-current.

Department Level:

Committee Member, Teaching Committee; 2006-current.

Committee Member, Departmental Committee for Promotion and Tenure (P&T); 7/2020-current.

Committee Member, Departmental Post-Tenure Review Committee; 2/2026-current.