people

Christopher R. Fortenbach, MD, PhD is principal investigator of the Fortenbach Lab. He is a clinician-scientist and vitreoretinal surgeon at UW Medicine, with a research program centered on photopharmacologic vision restoration in retinal degeneration.

He completed his MD/PhD at the University of California, Davis, and then trained at the University of Iowa for residency and vitreoretinal surgery fellowship. He joined the UW faculty in the Fall of 2023.

Lab Manager

Angela brings two decades of experience in molecular biology and ophthalmology research, with deep expertise at the bench and in lab administration. She runs the day-to-day operations of the Fortenbach Lab.

Research Scientist

Payton joined the lab from the UW Division of Rheumatology, where she spent nearly seven years as a research scientist and lab manager, leading subprojects on fibroblast and neutrophil biology. She brings hands-on expertise in animal handling, flow cytometry, qPCR, cell culture, tissue processing, and microscopy, and is now applying that toolkit to experiments on azobenzene photoswitches for vision restoration in outer retinal degeneration.

Medical Student Researcher

Hayden is a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine completing an Independent Investigative Inquiry (Triple I) research project in the lab. Triple I is the UW School of Medicine scholarly project requirement, in which students carry out a mentored research project over the summer between their first and second years and present their findings the following fall. Hayden is studying the mechanisms of novel photoswitches for vision restoration in outer retinal degeneration.

Medical Student Researcher

Jessica is a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine completing an Independent Investigative Inquiry (Triple I) research project in the lab. Triple I is the UW School of Medicine scholarly project requirement, in which students carry out a mentored research project over the summer between their first and second years and present their findings the following fall. Jessica is studying the mechanisms by which photoswitches gain entry to retinal neurons.

Chemist (lab member, 2024–2025)

Alex is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Romo Group.