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Ajitha Mannalithara

Research Engineer, Medicine - Med/Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Contact Info
- 430 Broadway Street
- Pavilion C 3rd Floor MC: 6341
- Redwood City, California 94063
Mail Code: 6341

BioDr. Mannil’s academic work spans several high-impact areas, including investigations into the pathophysiology of glaucoma, intracranial pressure dynamics, and advanced imaging biomarkers using OCT, MRI, and machine-learning–based visual field analytics and trans-laminar pressure gradients. She is actively involved in Stanford’s glaucoma research ecosystem, contributing to imaging-based phenotyping, structure–function correlation studies, and novel diagnostic paradigms for early glaucoma detection.
Her clinical interests encompass the full spectrum of glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmic disease, with expertise in complex diagnostic evaluations, optic neuropathies, and imaging-heavy neuro-visual syndromes. Dr. Mannil’s interest areas include cortical visual disorders, dorsal midbrain syndromes, and secondary optic neuropathies.
Dr. Mannil is committed to global health, having served in multiple high-volume community outreach programs and charitable surgical initiatives in India and Nepal. She has also contributed in developing structured research and clinical documentation systems from India, Nepal, Hongkong and the US as part of data-driven research programs at Stanford.
In addition to clinical and research work, Dr. Mannil is building a strong academic portfolio that includes teaching neuro-ophthalmology and glaucoma concepts to residents and fellows, creating image-rich educational materials, and leading structured journal reviews on topics such as trans-laminar pressure physiology, optic nerve vulnerability, and advanced glaucoma diagnostics.
Her professional interests extend to medical education innovation, patient-facing learning tools, and leveraging large language models for improved ophthalmic communication and global eyecare.
Dr. Mannil has authored multiple scholarly works, book chapters, and presented as invited faculty at Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology conferences, along with multiple paper presentations at AAO, ARVO, ICGS, and various international glaucoma conferences. She was awarded the prestigious Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology achievement award in 2025 and has also been awarded the Woman in Ophthalmology Honor by the Women Ophthalmology Society of India in 2018. She continues to collaborate with leaders in the field. She is the recipient of the APAO Travel Grant and the APAO International Fellowship Program. Her goal is to bridge the gap between glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, and digital innovation to advance precision care for complex optic nerve diseases.
Beyond medicine, Dr. Mannil nurtures a deep passion for writing, creative storytelling, interior décor, exploring ancient towns and cultural preservation, particularly through folklore and heritage narratives. She enjoys curating visual art projects, exploring international cuisine, weight training, and capturing travel and nature through photography.
She lives in the Bay Area and loves exploring various cuisines and reviewing rustic cottages with her husband. The most favorite part of her day is playing sidekick to her 5 year old son.