School of Medicine
Showing 51-100 of 343 Results
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Ximena Corso Díaz
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are interested in unraveling the roles of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and regulatory RNAs in retinal development and homeostasis.
RNA-binding proteins mediate functional integration of transcriptional and post-transcriptional machineries influencing various aspects of gene expression and RNA metabolism. Several RBPs have cell-type enriched expression patterns in the retina or cause blinding diseases, however their role in retinal development and function is poorly understood. We have identified several RBPs that interact with the photoreceptor-specific transcription factor NRL and are likely involved in development and homeostasis of this retinal cell-type. We are pursuing the following lines of research:
1) RBPs in retinal development and degeneration. We will study the role of RBPs in regulating retinal development and maintaining homeostasis. We will focus on RBPs enriched in the retina, their interactions with retinal transcription factors like NRL, and their relevance to retinal diseases.
2) RBPs in R-loop regulation in the retina. R-loops are triple-stranded structures created when RNA anneals to one of the strands of the DNA duplex. R-loops have many regulatory roles during gene expression and their dysregulation can be detrimental to genome integrity. We observed that R-loops are dynamic during retinal development and identified key R-loop-associated RBPs that are enriched in rod photoreceptors and that interact with the transcription factor NRL. We will study the role of R-loops and their regulatory RBPs in retinal development and homeostasis.
3) Chromatin-associated regulatory RNAs through the retina lifespan. Chromatin-associated RNAs contribute to the dynamic regulation of gene expression, chromatin structure, and genome organization, playing essential roles in various biological processes, including development, differentiation, and disease. We will study how regulatory RNAs, together with their cognate RBPs, influence expression programs and chromatin dynamics through the retina lifespan. -
Muhammad Najam Dar
Affiliate, Ophthalmology Research/Clinical Trials
BioDr. Muhammad Najam Dar is affiliate researcher at Stanford University and specializing in electrophysiological signal-based ophthalmological solutions. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan, and was awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Fellowship for his doctoral research at City, University of London, United Kingdom.
With a strong interdisciplinary foundation in biomedical signal and image analysis, computer vision, and deep learning, Dr. Dar has made significant contributions to both academia and industry. His research focuses on developing cutting-edge AI-driven diagnostic tools, wearable smart device signal processing, and systemic workflow optimizations for healthcare applications. His work integrates machine learning, medical imaging, and human-centered design to advance next-generation ophthalmological and biomedical solutions.
Beyond research, Dr. Dar has extensive experience in teaching, mentorship, and academic leadership, fostering innovation in AI-driven healthcare among the next generation of engineers and scientists. His ability to bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications makes him an invaluable asset in advancing biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence in healthcare, and translational research. Dr. Dar aims to become a leader in AI-driven healthcare solutions by advancing cutting-edge research, fostering industry collaborations, integrating design thinking into innovative medical technologies, mentoring and inspiring students and peers, empowering them to to drive transformative advancements in healthcare and improve lives globally. -
Charles DeBoer, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
BioDr. DeBoer is a board-certified, fellowship-trained vitreoretinal surgeon with Stanford Health Care’s Byers Eye Institute and a clinical instructor in the Department of Ophthalmology.
He specializes in retinal and macular diseases, treating a range of conditions such as retinal tears, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusions, macular pucker, macular hole, macular degeneration, retinal detachment, and other complex retinal conditions. Dr. DeBoer incorporates state-of-the-art treatments in personalized, comprehensive care plans for each of his patients. He is dedicated to training future vitreoretinal surgeons and passionate about helping patients through both direct care and research.
Dr. DeBoer’s scientific background in micro- and nanofabrication, mechanical and electrical engineering, and medicine drives his research interests in implantable devices and surgical instruments. While completing his PhD, Dr. DeBoer co-invented a biomimetic accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) that treats both cataracts and presbyopia.
He continues researching microdevices, focusing on extended drug delivery from the lens capsule and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-enabled implantable devices. Dr. DeBoer’s research experience spans topics such as material science, drug delivery, IOL design, microfabrication, 3D printing, and medical device design. He has received grant funding for his work and has 12 patents in the field of ophthalmology.
Dr. DeBoer’s work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the American Journal of Ophthalmology. He has authored book chapters and presented to his peers at national and international meetings, including meetings of the American Society of Retina Specialists and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
Dr. DeBoer is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Retina Specialists. He is also part of the Society of HEED Fellows and Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Foundation. -
Boxiong Deng
Postdoctoral Scholar, Ophthalmology
BioBoxiong Currently is a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Sui Wang's lab within Stanford University's Department of Ophathalmology, focusing on the interplay between retinal Müller glial cells and the vasculature in diabetic conditions.
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Shazia Dharssi, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology
BioDr. Shazia Dharssi is a board-certified ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon with Stanford Health Care. She is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, Division of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Dharssi specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the eyelid and surrounding structures of the orbit. She specializes in advanced oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery, including both functional and cosmetic eyelid surgery, tear duct surgery, and orbital surgeries. Her expertise also includes diagnosing and treating facial nerve palsy, ptosis, thyroid eye disease, ocular cancers, and skin cancer that affects the eyes. Dr. Dharssi is dedicated to providing personalized, high-quality care to achieve the best possible outcomes for her patients.
Dr. Dharssi’s research focuses on applying deep learning and related computational tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration. She is particularly interested in developing technologies that enhance precision, efficiency, and patient outcomes in ophthalmic care. Her long-term goal is to integrate these innovations into the field of oculoplastic surgery to advance both functional and reconstructive outcomes.
Dr. Dharssi has published her research in peer-reviewed journals, such as Ophthalmic Epidemiology, Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Journal of Academic Ophthalmology, and Ophthalmology. She has presented to her peers at international and national meetings, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and Women in Ophthalmology (WIO).
Dr. Dharssi is a candidate member of ASOPRS and a member of AAO, ARVO, and WIO. -
Diana Do, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Do's research focuses on collaborative clinical trials to investigate novel treatments for retinal vascular diseases and ocular inflammation. She performs research to develop state of the art therapies for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, retinal vein occlusion, retinal inflammation, and retinal detachment.
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Alfredo Dubra, PhD
Professor of Ophthalmology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur lab seeks to help the early diagnosing and monitoring progression of ocular, vascular, neurodegenerative and systemic diseases through novel non-invasive optical ophthalmic imaging. We pursue this goal through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates optics, computer science, vision science, electrical engineering and other engineering disciplines.
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Peter R. Egbert, MD
Professor of Ophthalmology, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOcular pathology of shaken baby syndrome
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Houri Esmaeilkhanian
Visiting Instructor, Ophthalmology Research/Clinical Trials
BioDr. Esmaeilkhanian is an accomplished medical doctor who graduated from Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) in 2018. Her passion for ophthalmology ignited during her medical studies, leading her to a focused research career in this field. After earning her degree, she dedicated her efforts to serving underprivileged communities while continuing her research at the Eye and Ear Research Institute of IUMS. In 2021, she advanced to the Doheny Eye Institute at UCLA, working in Prof. Vas Sadda’s lab, where she made significant contributions to research on diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), further honing her clinical expertise. In March 2023, Dr. Esmaeilkhanian joined Byers Eye Institute, pioneering treatments for corneal injuries using innovative stem cell therapies and hydrogels. Additionally, she plays a crucial role in collaborative clinical studies involving the first FDA-approved AI device for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy impacting patient care in both the Bay Area and underserved regions.
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Muneeb A. Faiq
Basic Life Research Scientist, Ophthalmology Research/Clinical Trials
BioDr. Muneeb A. Faiq is a behavioral and metabolic neuroscientist and ophthalmology researcher whose work spans molecular biology, neuroimaging, and systems neuroscience. He has made several foundational contributions, including the first functional cloning of CYP1B1 in congenital glaucoma, implicating retinoic-acid signaling in Zika virus–associated microcephaly, identifying central insulin resistance as a mechanistic basis for glaucoma, and providing the first in vivo evidence for a glymphatic pathway in the optic nerve. With more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and over 4,000 citations, Dr. Faiq has earned international recognition, including the Emerging Vision Scientist Award – 2019 from the Alliance for Eye and Vision Research. He is widely regarded as the pioneer and principal architect of the discipline of psychosomatic ophthalmology, a field he helped conceptualize and establish, leading to the integration of ophthalmic clinical practice with mindfulness-based and psychosomatic medicine frameworks. Dr. Faiq is currently advancing the concept of neurometabolic syntax in vision and brain function — a unifying systems-level framework that integrates genetics, metabolism, and behavior to reconceptualize ophthalmic and neurological diseases through a mechanistic and interdisciplinary lens. He has been selected for the prestigious Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Achievement Award 2026.
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Zoha Zahid Fazal
Visiting Instructor, Ophthalmology Research/Clinical Trials
BioZoha Zahid Fazal is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Sepah Lab at Stanford Medicine, where her work advances screening innovation and diagnostic automation for retinal degenerative diseases through cutting-edge research and artificial intelligence–driven tools. During her time at Stanford, she has collaborated across the Spencer Center for Vision Research, the Center for Digital Health, the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging, the Ocular Imaging Research & Reading Center, and the Mussallem Center for Biodesign—developing a multidisciplinary skill set at the intersection of medicine, applied coding, and computation.
Previously, as a predoctoral scholar, Zoha worked closely with the Director of the Global Health Dermatology Program at Yale School of Medicine, contributing to global training, research, advocacy, and field-based interventions addressing tropical and culturally contextual dermatologic disease. She also gained clinical and research experience through the Northwestern Medicine Adjunct Dermatology Program, supporting patient care, clinical education, and research in skin-of-color dermatology, autoimmune disease, and complex dermatopathies. Through these roles, she helped establish collaborative research initiatives linking U.S. academic centers with her home medical school in Pakistan.
Zoha earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University, graduating with honors in Community Health Sciences, and is recognized for her leadership and impact in community service. As part of AKU’s community education efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-authored and edited 'How Not to Go Viral', a student handbook, over 1,500 copies of which were distributed to libraries across Pakistan. For her contributions to poverty alleviation and pandemic relief efforts, she was awarded the Quadragon Member of the Year Award in 2020. She has also volunteered extensively in flood-relief operations and rural medical camps across Pakistan, experiences that exposed her to the limitations of resource-constrained health systems and paper-based medical records.
Zoha’s interest in global health research and big-data analytics began early. She graduated with distinction from Cedar College, majoring in biological sciences and advanced mathematics, and spent formative summers working alongside nursing faculty and public health leaders at the institution that later became her medical school. She has since continued to build technical fluency in healthcare data analytics and research software through self-directed coursework. She served as a global research lead from Pakistan for the COVAD Collaborative, led by the NHS Foundation Trust (UK), where her work focused on patient safety, healthcare quality, and vaccine uptake among individuals with autoimmune diseases. As a medical student, she also led Gates Foundation–sponsored interventional studies aimed at improving maternal, neonatal, and child health outcomes in underserved settings.
Looking ahead, Zoha envisions a career as a clinician-scientist specializing in biomedical informatics. Her long-term goal is to design sustainable, scalable, and context-aware digital health systems for developing nations—systems that are grounded in local resources, cultural realities, and environmental constraints. Through human-centered digital health innovation, she aims to advance equitable, evidence-based care globally. -
Palmer Feibelman
Postdoctoral Scholar, Ophthalmology
BioPalmer Feibelman studied biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech before earning his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He went on to serve as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy, where he held the role of Medical Department Head at Navy Operational Support Center Washington, D.C., and later deployed as a flight surgeon with Marine F/A-18 squadron VMFA-232. Following his military service, he pursued ophthalmology training at Brown University, where he also continued to build on his engineering background. He is now the Ophthalmology Innovation Fellow at Stanford University for the 2025–2026 academic year.
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Ann Caroline Fisher, MD
Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology
BioCaroline Fisher, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford University Hospital and Clinics. She specializes in cataract and glaucoma surgery, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.
She completed her undergraduate education at Stanford University, obtaining both a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish, with Departmental Honors. She earned her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine and then went on to her internship at the University of Pennsylvania Presbyterian Hospital. She completed her ophthalmology residency at NYU/ Manhattan Eye, Ear, Throat Hospital. She then returned to Stanford for her Glaucoma Fellowship.
Dr. Fisher is Director of the Stanford Belize Vision Clinic, dedicated to promoting eye health and care in Belize, and providing an international rotation for Stanford Ophthalmology Residents. She is also an Office of Faculty Development and Engagement Liaison and is currently one of the Stanford Network for Advancement and Promotion (SNAP) Cohort Leaders. Dr. Fisher is the Director of Development and Engagement for the Department of Ophthalmology. -
Michael W. Gaynon, MD
Clinical Professor, Ophthalmology
Current Research and Scholarly Interests-Retinal Vascular Disease
-Angiogenesis
-Retinopathy of Prematurity
-Sustained Release Drug Delivery Systems -
Jeffrey Goldberg, MD, PhD
Blumenkranz Smead Professor
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsLab research on molecular mechanisms of survival and regeneration in the visual system; retinal development and stem cell biology; nanoparticles and tissue engineering. Clinical trials in imaging, biomarker development, and neuroprotection and vision restoration in glaucoma and other neurodegenerative diseases.
