Thomas Gardner

Thomas Gardner is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. He holds center memberships at the Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, Caswell Diabetes Institute, and Taubman Institute. His research focuses on diabetic retinal disease mechanisms, neurovascular interactions, and innovative treatments, with a strong emphasis on translational medicine and precision therapeutics. Gardner leads the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative Biorepository, advancing molecular and imaging analyses of diabetic retinal pathophysiology.

His work bridges clinical care and discovery, including studies on glycemic control effects, senolytic therapies for macular edema, and AI-driven imaging tools for retinal nonperfusion assessment. He collaborates globally on updated staging systems for diabetic eye disease and advocates for early screening programs like the Sight-Saving Engagement and Evaluation in New Haven (SEEN). Gardner’s contributions span over 150 publications, addressing neurodegeneration, vascular dysfunction, and diabetic complications across multiple organs.

Key areas include: retinal proteomics (vitreous/aqueous humor analysis), diabetic macular edema mechanisms, and anti-VEGF treatment outcomes. His labs and teams integrate computational medicine, clinical trials, and patient advocacy to combat vision loss from diabetes. Current projects explore senolytics, imaging modalities, and glycometabolic interventions to prevent retinal damage in diabetes patients.