Terete Borras, PhD

Professor Emeritus

Former Director of Research

Subspecialties

Novel gene therapy for preventing development of and treating glaucoma via focused solutions in gene/mechanism identification and optimal gene transfer. Identification of trabecular meshwork (TM) genes and regulatory elements that respond to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and may function as causative sources of glaucoma.

Education

Staff Fellowship: Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology – NIH National Eye Institute (Bethesda, Maryland) (1986)
Post-doctoral Fellowship: NIH Laboratory of Central Nervous Systems Studies –  (Bethesda, MD) (1982)
Doctorate (Molecular Biology): University of Madrid, Spain (1977)
Master of Science (Molecular Biology): Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (1969)

Professor Emeritus Teresa “Terete” Borras, PhD, joined UNC Ophthalmology faculty in 2002. She served as the department’s Director of Research for almost 7 years (2015-2022). Conducting her research at UNC’s Gene Therapy Center, Dr. Borras centered her work around developing novel gene therapy approaches for regulating the eyes’ trabecular meshwork (TM), maintaining intraocular eye pressure and creating a protective mechanism for the eye(s) to prevent development of and treat glaucoma.

Prior to UNC, Dr. Borras was appointed Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Genetics at Duke University Medical Center’s Department of Ophthalmology (1995-2002). She also served as an Expert Scientist at the NIH’s National Eye Institute. In R&D industry, Dr. Borras’ expertise was integral to serving as Director of Biology for Cusí Research & Development Center (Laboratorios Cusí, S.A. – Barcelona) and as Scientific Director for PharmaGen S.A. (Madrid, Spain), among other roles.