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Oleg Alekseev

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery
2351 Erwin Road, Box 3802, Durham, NC 27705

Overview


Dr. Alekseev completed combined MD-PhD training at Drexel University College of Medicine and pursued post-doctoral fellowship training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.  He completed Ophthalmology residency training at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, where he also served as a chief resident.  Dr. Alekseev pursued double-fellowship training in Medical Retina and Inherited Retinal Degenerations at the Duke Eye Center, where he then joined the faculty in 2022.

Dr. Alekseev is a member of the Duke Center for Retinal Degenerations and Ophthalmic Genetic Diseases.  His clinical focus is on inherited retinal degenerations, including conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, macular pattern dystrophies, syndromic retinal degenerations, and mimickers like autoimmune and iatrogenic retinopathies.  Dr. Alekseev’s patients have access to advanced diagnostic modalities, including electrophisiology testing, various types of perimetry testing, specialized retinal imaging, as well as genetic testing.  In addition to his practice, Dr. Alekseev conducts clinical trials in rare genetic conditions of the retina, such as choroideremia and retinitis pigmentosa.

As a K08-scholar, Dr. Alekseev dedicates the majority of his time to basic and translational research in the laboratory.  He is interested in developing gene-agnostic approaches to extend the longevity of ailing photoreceptors in conditions like retinitis pigmentosa, thereby preserving the vision of affected patients.  The approaches he investigates include both gene-therapy and small-molecule-based therapeutic modalities.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology · 2024 - Present Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery, Ophthalmology

Recent Publications


Peripherin-2 and ROM1 Incorporate Directly Into the Rims of Enclosing Photoreceptor Discs Without Accumulating in the Nascent Disc Lamellae.

Journal Article Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci · August 1, 2025 PURPOSE: Oligomeric complexes of peripherin-2 and ROM1 support the rim structure of membrane discs stacked inside the light-sensitive outer segment of vertebrate photoreceptor cells. We investigated the route by which peripherin-2 and ROM1 reach their dest ... Full text Link to item Cite

Optimized Minimally Invasive Transscleral Subretinal Injection Technique in Mouse.

Journal Article J Vis Exp · July 25, 2025 The conventional method of material delivery to the subretinal space in the mouse involves dual perforation of the neural retina, which causes extensive surgical damage. This leads to variability in the subsequent outcome measures of the visual function, s ... Full text Link to item Cite

Unique ultrastructural organization of human rod photoreceptors.

Journal Article Commun Biol · January 16, 2025 Rod and cone photoreceptor cells are specialized neurons responsible for transforming the information reaching the eyes in the form of photons into the language of neuronal activity. Rods are the most prevalent photoreceptor type, primarily responsible for ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


A Phase Ib, Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Orally Administered DF-003 in ROSAH Syndrome Patients

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Shanghai Yao Yuan Biotechnology, Ltd _ AKA Drug Farm · 2025 - 2030

Defining the underlying causes of retinal degeneration in CRB1 disease

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Foundation Fighting Blindness, Inc · 2024 - 2029

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Education, Training & Certifications


Drexel University, College of Medicine · 2016 M.D.
Drexel University · 2014 Ph.D.