معرفی
Dr. Raji Shyam is an Assistant Professor at the Indiana University School of Optometry, a role she assumed in January 2023. She is also Graduate Faculty with endorsement to chair PhD committees. Her laboratory, the Shyam Lab, is based at Indiana University, and she can be contacted at rashyam@iu.edu or found at Room 511 in Bloomington, IN. She completed her Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Anatomy at the University of Utah (2017) and a B.S. in Biology (Honors) at Roosevelt University (2009).
Education:
- B.S. in Biology (Honors), Roosevelt University, 2009
- Ph.D. in Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, 2017
Research Interests: Dr. Shyam’s work focuses on cell signaling mechanisms maintaining eye health, particularly in corneal endothelium and autophagy pathways. Her lab investigates:
- Dysfunctional autophagy in congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED)
- Gene therapy approaches to reverse CHED progression
- Mitochondrial ROS and ER stress in corneal endothelial cells
- Molecular mechanisms of corneal homeostasis
Grants & Awards:
- NIH T-32 Vision Training Grant (2016–2017)
- Indiana CTSI TL1 Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2018–2020)
- Knights Templar Career Starter Grant (2019–2021)
- NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (2021–2026)
Advising & Grants: While no formal advisees are listed, her postdoctoral and faculty roles indicate active mentorship. Her grants reflect translational research priorities in ocular disease mechanisms and therapies. Collaborations with institutions like the Moran Eye Center and Indiana University underscore her interdisciplinary approach.
Labs & Teams: The Shyam Lab at Indiana University School of Optometry leads efforts to uncover molecular pathways in ocular health/disease. The lab employs genetic, biochemical, and cellular techniques to address corneal and retinal disorders, with a focus on CHED and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy mouse models.
