Benjamin J. Frankfort

Benjamin J. Frankfort, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor and holds the Clifton R. McMichael Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also a Professor in Neuroscience and Co-Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program. His research focuses on understanding mechanisms underlying glaucoma—a neurodegenerative disease of the optic nerve—and developing novel diagnostics/therapeutics. His lab uses advanced techniques like single-cell RNA-seq, electrophysiology, and mouse models to study retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury, neurovascular dysfunction, and neuroprotection.

• Education: MD (2005), PhD (2003) from Baylor College of Medicine; BA from Duke University (1996)
• Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine (2010); Glaucoma Residency at Johns Hopkins (2009)

Research priorities include: 1) neurovascular unit dysfunction in early glaucoma, 2) RGC survival mechanisms in culture, 3) early gene expression changes in glaucoma, and 4) serotonin-based neuroprotection strategies. His work bridges basic science (molecular mechanisms) with clinical care (glaucoma management).

Grants include $4.2M from NIH (R01 EY025601, 2015–2024) studying optic nerve degeneration and $2.1M from Clayton Foundation for early glaucoma detection research. He leads a lab in Baylor’s Neurosensory Building (NC-306) and collaborates widely in ophthalmology and neuroscience.