About Rachel Huckfeldt, MD, PhD
Dr. Rachel Huckfeldt is a full-time member of the Inherited Retinal Disorders Service at Mass. Eye and Ear. She is a retina specialist with expertise in inherited retinal degenerations as well as conditions including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Huckfeldt graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, summa cum laude, with a BA in Biology and Psychology. Subsequently, she earned her MD and PhD in Neuroscience at Washington University. Next, she completed her ophthalmology residency in Harvard Medical School’s Department of Ophthalmology. Before returning to Mass. Eye and Ear, she completed a postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Therapeutics for Inherited Retinal Diseases with Dr. Jean Bennett at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a Medical Retina Fellowship at the University of Iowa. She completed a clinical and research fellowship in inherited retinal degenerations under the guidance of Dr. Eric Pierce, supported by a Foundation Fighting Blindness Clinical/ Research Fellowship Award.
Dr. Huckfeldt has received numerous honors and awards. In particular, she was selected to attend the Heed Resident’s Retreat, later received a Heed Fellowship, and also received an Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology/National Eye Institute travel grant.
Clinical Interests:
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Retina
Treats:
- Adult
Locations
Mass Eye and Ear
243 Charles St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-523-7900
Medical Education
- MD, Washington University
- Residency, Massachusetts Eye and Ear***
- Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye and Ear***
- Fellowship, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
American Board Certifications
- Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology
Research
Dr. Huckfeldt’s clinically-oriented research focuses on improving the care and visual outcomes of patients with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). Her current research focuses on understanding pathways leading to retinal degeneration and improving the clinical care of patients with retinitis pigmentosa-associated cystoid macular edema. These projects have the potential to increase our understanding of RP and other inherited orphan retinal degenerations. Dr. Huckfeldt also leads Mass Eye and Ear’s participation in a number of clinical trials assessing gene therapies for the treatment of IRDs.
Publications
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1. Huckfeldt RM, Vavvas DG. Progressive Maculopathy After Discontinuation of Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019 Oct 01; 50(10):656-659.
2. Stanwyck LK, Place EM, Comander J, Huckfeldt RM, Sobrin L. Predictive value of genetic testing for inherited retinal diseases in patients with suspected atypical autoimmune retinopathy. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2019 Sep; 15:100461.
3. Gupta PR, Huckfeldt RM. Gene therapy for inherited retinal degenerations: initial successes and future challenges. J Neural Eng. 2017 10; 14(5):051002.
4. Huckfeldt RM, Comander J. Management of Cystoid Macular Edema in Retinitis Pigmentosa. Semin Ophthalmol. 2017; 32(1):43-51.
5. Ramachandran PS, Lee V, Wei Z, Song JY, Casal G, Cronin T, Willett K, Huckfeldt R, Morgan JI, Aleman TS, Maguire AM, Bennett J. Evaluation of Dose and Safety of AAV7m8 and AAV8BP2 in the Non-Human Primate Retina. Hum Gene Ther. 2017 02; 28(2):154-167.