Shruthi Karnam, PhD
Research Interests
Shruthi Karnam, PhD, is an Assistant Research Scientist at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California, Berkeley.
She earned her PhD in Biochemistry in 2018 from Osmania University, India, where her research focused on the ubiquitin-proteasome system and its role in neurodegeneration associated with metabolic diseases.
Prior to joining UC Berkeley, she served as a Postdoctoral Fellow for two years in the Department of Ophthalmology at Duke University. There, she investigated lens fiber cell membrane organization, characterized dystrophin-deficient and drebrin conditional knockout mouse models, and optimized techniques to isolate extracellular matrix proteins from lens fiber cells, contributing to a deeper understanding of lens transparency and morphogenesis.
As a postdoctoral scholar at UC Berkeley, Dr. Karnam has advanced her research on lipid-based signaling pathways in neurodegeneration and glaucoma. Her current studies focus on the role of neuroprotective lipoxin pathways and prostaglandins in retinal ganglion cells and astrocytes. She collaborates with Dr. John Flanagan and Dr. Karsten Gronert to explore the neuroprotective roles of lipid signaling pathways in glaucoma.
Dr. Karnam has authored 13 peer-reviewed journal articles and presented at over 20 international conferences. She has received numerous awards, including the Young Investigator Award from the Alcon Research Institute, the ARVO Science Communication and Training Fellowship, and the Emerging Vision Scientist Award from the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research.
In addition to her research, Dr. Karnam is dedicated to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, fostering their growth in the field of vision science. She has also played a pivotal role in securing grant funding for her studies on neuroprotective pathways, advancing the understanding of glaucoma pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.
Ongoing Project
Alcon Research Institute (PI): Investigating the Role of Prostaglandin E2 Receptor EP1 Signaling in Ocular Hypertension-Induced Neurodegeneration (06/01/2024–05/31/2025)