Matthew Petroll

Dr. W. Matthew Petroll is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and the Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He serves as Vice Chair of Research in Ophthalmology and previously directed the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program from 2012 to 2025. His interdisciplinary work bridges engineering and clinical ophthalmology, focusing on corneal cell mechanics and tissue engineering.

Dr. Petroll earned his BS in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University (1984) and PhD from the University of Virginia (1989). He joined UT Southwestern in 1991 after postdoctoral training at Georgetown University.

His research centers on cell mechanics, corneal wound healing, and extracellular matrix dynamics, using in vivo confocal microscopy and 3D time-lapse imaging to study fibroblast behavior. His lab investigates how biochemical and biophysical cues regulate keratocyte differentiation, migration, and matrix remodeling in response to injury, surgery, and disease.

His recent publications (2023–2025) highlight work on UV cross-linking effects, corneal fibrosis, gene expression in Fuchs’ dystrophy, and biomimetic collagen scaffolds. These studies demonstrate a consistent focus on mechanobiology and regenerative strategies for corneal transparency.

Dr. Petroll has trained numerous graduate students, medical students, and postdocs through his active research lab. He has held leadership roles in academic programs and research administration, reflecting his institutional impact.

His lab, the Petroll Lab, is embedded within the Department of Ophthalmology and collaborates extensively on corneal imaging, biomechanics, and translational research. The lab develops innovative models for assessing 3D cell-matrix interactions in vitro and in vivo.