Surabhi Shukla

Surabhi Shukla, PhD serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Sciences within Creighton University's School of Pharmacy and Health Professions. Her research is housed in the HLSB - Hixson Lied Science Building (Room 166) where she leads investigations into neurodegenerative disease therapeutics and ocular drug delivery systems.

Dr. Shukla's research program focuses on two primary domains: neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and advanced ocular drug delivery. Her neurodegenerative work centers on identifying neurotrophic agents that induce neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation, with particular emphasis on histone deacetylase inhibitors like vorinostat. In ocular pharmacology, she develops novel formulations to overcome blood-ocular barriers, especially targeting P-glycoprotein efflux mechanisms to improve drug penetration for retinal diseases. Her methodology integrates molecular pharmacology, in vitro neuronal models (PC12 cells), and ocular barrier transport studies.

Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent thematic progression from foundational neurotrophic mechanism studies (2012-2016) toward applied therapeutic development (2017-2025). Recent work shows increasing focus on nucleic acid delivery for inherited retinal disorders and liposomal Alzheimer's treatments, indicating strategic expansion into gene therapy and nanomedicine while maintaining core expertise in neuroprotection and ocular barriers.

Dr. Shukla actively collaborates with researchers across disciplines, as evidenced by co-authorship patterns spanning molecular neuroscience, pharmaceutical formulation, and ocular transport studies. Her laboratory employs combinatorial approaches including in vitro neurotrophic screening assays, blood-ocular barrier models, and advanced drug delivery system development.