Imam Uddin

Dr. Imam Uddin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. His research focuses on developing innovative molecular imaging technologies for early disease detection and treatment in ophthalmology.

Dr. Uddin earned his Ph.D. in Applied Material Sciences from Kochi University, Japan, following earlier degrees in Chemistry from Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh.

Dr. Uddin's research centers on molecular imaging technologies including optical imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and nanoscale engineering. His laboratory develops approaches for early detection and treatment of retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). His team has pioneered innovative techniques like the HYPOX-4 fluorescence imaging probe for detecting retinal hypoxia in living animals and hairpin-DNA functionalized gold nanoparticles for imaging disease-relevant biomarkers. These technologies enable researchers to track critical hallmarks of retinal disease and understand how retinopathies develop, potentially aiding physicians in determining optimal therapeutic intervention timing.

Analysis of Dr. Uddin's recent publications reveals a strong focus on molecular imaging of retinal diseases, particularly using nanotechnology-based approaches. His work spans from basic chemical synthesis of molecular probes to preclinical applications in animal models of retinal disease. A significant portion of his research investigates hypoxia detection and monitoring of neovascularization processes that lead to vision loss. His laboratory has developed patented technologies including probes for targeted visualization of NLRP3 inflammasomes and nanogold-DNA bioconjugates.

• Reeves Foundation Grant 2022-2023 ($47,100) for an OptoDrum automated optokinetic measurement system
• American Diabetes Association Innovative Basic Science Award 2022
• International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) pilot Grant for AMD research
• BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Award of $200,000 (2019-2021)
• National Eye Institute R01 grants totaling over $3.7 million

Dr. Uddin serves as Principal Investigator on multiple significant research grants, including NIH R01 funding for in vivo molecular imaging of retinal vascular disease. His laboratory actively mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, with recent publications featuring trainees as first authors. Dr. Uddin is also serving as Executive Guest Editor for a special issue on "Molecular Imaging of the Retina" in Experimental Eye Research, with submissions due May 31, 2025.

The Uddin Laboratory operates state-of-the-art imaging facilities including OCT systems and optical imaging equipment. The lab collaborates extensively with the Vanderbilt Eye Institute and other research centers at Vanderbilt, particularly in developing technologies that bridge engineering, chemistry, and ophthalmology to address unmet clinical needs in retinal disease diagnosis and treatment.