Danielle M. Robertson

Danielle M. Robertson, O.D., Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is also a member of the Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine (CRSM) and participates in the Immunology and Cell and Molecular Biology graduate programs. Her clinical role includes directing the Advanced Dry Eye Specialty Clinic at UT Southwestern.

Education:

• Clinical training at the University of Houston College of Optometry
• Ph.D. in physiological optics and vision science from University of Houston

Dr. Robertson's research focuses on understanding how various stressors, including hyperosmolar, desiccating, and inflammatory stress in dry eye disease, hyperglycemia in diabetes, and pathogen-induced stress during infection, impact mitochondria in the corneal epithelium. Her work aims to develop novel therapies for common corneal diseases through cellular and molecular signaling pathway analysis.

Recent publications highlight her work on:

• IGFBP-3's role in mitochondrial and metabolic homeostasis
• Extracellular vesicle dynamics in corneal inflammation
• Hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction
• Novel imaging techniques for corneal assessment
• Dry eye disease biomarkers
• Stress response mechanisms in ocular surface

Her research spans molecular biology, clinical ophthalmology, and translational medicine.

Scientific Awards:

• Two-time Ezell Fellow
• Scientific Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness (only optometrist recipient)

Grants:

• Two major research grants from National Eye Institute
• NIH-funded medical student research training grant

Laboratory: The Robertson Lab investigates mitochondrial stress responses in corneal epithelial cells under dry eye, diabetes, and infection conditions, with a focus on developing novel therapies for these common ocular diseases.