Pete A Williams

Pete A Williams is the Ulla and Ingemar Dahlberg Professor in Vision Science at Karolinska Institutet and Research Group Leader for Glaucoma at St Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm. His lab uses the eye as a model of the central nervous system to study early mechanisms of neurodegeneration, focusing on neuronal metabolism and therapeutic target identification through transcriptomic and molecular tools. He leads Phase II/III clinical trials and commercial ventures in neuroprotection, with future plans to establish the Neuroprotection and Repair Unit at Centre for Eye Research Australia in 2026.

• Education: PhD (2012), Cardiff University
• Affiliations: Karolinska Institutet, St Erik Eye Hospital

Research interests center on neurodegeneration, glaucoma, mitochondrial biology, metabolic disorders, and translational therapies. His work spans from bench (C. elegans, rodent models) to bedside (clinical trials) with a focus on nicotinamide, gene therapy, and neuroregenerative strategies.

Recent publications highlight metabolic pathways in glaucoma, neuroprotection via vitamin supplementation, and clinical implications of GLP-1 agonists in ocular health. Collaborations with clinicians and basic scientists drive therapeutic development, including trials for semaglutide and rapamycin.

Lab alumni and current members include co-authors on studies related to neuroinflammation, dendritic degeneration, and metabolic modulation. Funding sources include Alcon Research Institute, European Research Council, Glaucoma Research Foundation, and Novo Nordisk Foundation.