Nancy McNamara

Nancy McNamara is a Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry. She serves as Chief of the UC Berkeley Sjogren’s Clinic and Co-Chief of the UC Berkeley Dry Eye Clinic. Her academic and clinical work spans ocular surface biology, molecular immunology, and translational research in dry eye disease.

• PhD in Optometry/Physiology from UC Berkeley
• Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• Postdoctoral training at UC San Francisco

Dr. McNamara’s research focuses on the structure and function of the tear film and ocular surface mucosal epithelium, exploring interactions with innate/adaptive immune systems, mechanisms of dry eye pathogenesis in autoimmune diseases like Sjogren’s, and neurotrophic therapies. Her work bridges basic science and clinical innovation, including the development of lacritin-based treatments.

Her publications highlight translational approaches to dry eye disease, emphasizing molecular mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic interventions such as lacritin replacement. Collaborations with UCSF’s Knox and McManus labs and James Madison University’s McKown lab have advanced understanding of lacrimal gland development and lacritin deficiency in dry eye patients.