Kavita Hegde

Kavita Hegde is a Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Coppin State University. She serves as Director of the Ophthalmic Research Laboratory, which she established in 2015. Her research focuses on oxidative stress in ocular tissues and the development of novel antioxidants for retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Her work bridges clinical ophthalmology and biochemical research, with collaborations at the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine. She has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in her lab.

• 2025: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Journal editorial board member
• 2020–2024: National Eye Institute (NIH) grant for "Imaging of hydroxyapatite as an early screen for AMD"

Key scientific awards include dual Wilson H. Elkins Professorships (2016–2018). Her publications span ocular oxidative stress mechanisms, antioxidant therapies, and diagnostic imaging techniques, with recent emphasis on tetracycline-based AMD detection.