Karteek Kunala
Research Engineer, Ophthalmology Research/Clinical Trials
Bio
My current interests are in development of design and instrumentation of pre-clinical vision devices, to conduct non-invasive in vivo retinal imaging. I studied Physics with a concentration in optics during my time at University of Hyderabad, India and received a bachelors and masters degree in 2014. I then moved to USA to continue working in the field of optics at University of North Carolina at Charlotte to pursue my PhD, working on nanofabrication of broadband anti-reflective structures. My interest in vision science started with my job at University of Rochester as a research scientist, where I was involved in developing optical imaging tools using adaptive optics to study retinal diseases. My work was focused on development of fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques in humans and two photon fluorescence microscopy in mouse.
Education & Certifications
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Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Optical Science and Engineering (2018)
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MS, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Optical Science and Engineering (2018)
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MSc, University of Hyderabad, INDIA, Physics (2014)
Work Experience
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Research Engineer, Stanford University (October 2022 - Present)
Location
2370 Watson Ct, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA
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Research Scientist, University of Rochester (January 2019 - September 2022)
Location
Rochester, NY, USA
All Publications
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Near-infrared adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy of human retinal pigment epithelium reveals variations with eccentricity and disease
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2023
View details for Web of Science ID 001053758301149
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Prolonged Fluorescence Lifetimes of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Human Subjects with Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium Toxicity
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2023
View details for Web of Science ID 001053758302351
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Erratum: Adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy of in vivo human retinal pigment epithelium: erratum.
Biomedical optics express
2023; 14 (4): 1544
Abstract
[This corrects the article on p. 1737 in vol. 13, PMID: 35414970.].
View details for DOI 10.1364/BOE.485995
View details for PubMedID 37078038
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Mapping the origin of two-photon excited fluorescence in macaque retinal layers with adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2022
View details for Web of Science ID 000844401301061
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Calcium responses to optogenetic stimulation decay faster in primate retinal ganglion cells after photoreceptor ablation
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2022
View details for Web of Science ID 000844437002184
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In vivo measurement of light steering by single retinal cells optimizes phase-contrast AOSLO
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2022
View details for Web of Science ID 000844437006194
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Optogenetic therapy restores retinal activity in primate for at least a year following photoreceptor ablation
MOLECULAR THERAPY
2022; 30 (3): 1315-1328
Abstract
All retina-based vision restoration approaches rely on the assumption that photoreceptor loss does not preclude reactivation of the remaining retinal architecture. Whether extended periods of vision loss limit the efficacy of restorative therapies at the retinal level is unknown. We examined long-term changes in optogenetic responsivity of foveal retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in non-human primates following localized photoreceptor ablation by high-intensity laser exposure. By performing fluorescence adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) of RGCs expressing both the calcium indicator GCaMP6s and the optogenetic actuator ChrimsonR, it was possible to track optogenetic-mediated calcium responses in deafferented RGCs over time. Fluorescence fundus photography revealed a 40% reduction in ChrimsonR fluorescence from RGCs lacking photoreceptor input over the 3 weeks following photoreceptor ablation. Despite this, in vivo imaging revealed good cellular preservation of RGCs 3 months after the loss of photoreceptor input, and histology confirmed good structural preservation at 2 years. Optogenetic responses of RGCs in primate persisted for at least 1 year after the loss of photoreceptor input, with a sensitivity index similar to optogenetic responses recorded in intact retina. These results are promising for all potential therapeutic approaches to vision restoration that rely on preservation and reactivation of RGCs.
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.09.014
View details for Web of Science ID 000765833300013
View details for PubMedID 34547460
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8899524
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Adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy of in vivo human retinal pigment epithelium
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
2022; 13 (3): 1737-1754
Abstract
The intrinsic fluorescence properties of lipofuscin - naturally occurring granules that accumulate in the retinal pigment epithelium - are a potential biomarker for the health of the eye. A new modality is described here which combines adaptive optics technology with fluorescence lifetime detection, allowing for the investigation of functional and compositional differences within the eye and between subjects. This new adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscope was demonstrated in 6 subjects. Repeated measurements between visits had a minimum intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.59 Although the light levels were well below maximum permissible exposures, the safety of the imaging paradigm was tested using clinical measures; no concerns were raised. This new technology allows for in vivo adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime imaging of the human RPE mosaic.
View details for DOI 10.1364/BOE.451628
View details for Web of Science ID 000764563900001
View details for PubMedID 35414970
View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8973160
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Adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy of iGlucoSnFR-TS suggests increased glucose in RPE of rho(-/-) compared to healthy mice
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2021
View details for Web of Science ID 000690760500051
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Adaptive optics fluorescence lifetime imaging ophthalmoscopy of the human RPE mosaic
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2021
View details for Web of Science ID 000690761100876
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Optogenetic activation of retinal ganglion cells persists for at least a year in primate fovea following photoreceptor loss
ASSOC RESEARCH VISION OPHTHALMOLOGY INC. 2020
View details for Web of Science ID 000554528300012
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Optical scattering measurements of random anti-reflection subwavelength surface structures on binary gratings
SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING. 2020
View details for DOI 10.1117/12.2544368
View details for Web of Science ID 000568488700026
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Optical Scattering of Deterministic Diffractive Elements with Antireflective Structured Surfaces
IEEE. 2019: 223-225
View details for Web of Science ID 000533584000048
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Random antireflective nanostructuring on binary near-wavelength period gratings
OPTICAL ENGINEERING
2018; 57 (8)
View details for DOI 10.1117/1.OE.57.8.087106
View details for Web of Science ID 000444481600043
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Diffraction efficiency performance of random anti-reflecting subwavelength surface structures on prefabricated fused silica binary gratings
APPLIED OPTICS
2018; 57 (16): 4421-4427
Abstract
Random anti-reflecting subwavelength surface structures have been reported to enhance transmission of optical windows and lenses. Specifically, for fused silica substrates, 99.9% specular transmission has been verified by various groups. Diffractive optical elements, such as gratings, also experience net Fresnel losses on both their planar and structured surfaces. We investigated the performance of prefabricated 50% duty-cycle, binary, fused silica linear gratings, with a period of 1.6 μm, before and after application of random anti-reflecting subwavelength surface structures, in order to reduce their initial Fresnel reflectivity. We compared the diffraction order directions and their efficiencies at three test wavelengths: 594, 612, and 633 nm, for both TE(s) and TM(p) incident light polarization states, under three different mountings: normal, first Bragg, and second Bragg incidence. We report transmission enhancement of the sum of all propagating grating orders for all cases tested by factors between 2% and 10%, with reduction of the respective reflected orders by similar ratios. Transmission enhancement of the -2 diffraction order at Bragg incidence suggests that the random etch has different rates between the raised and lowered linear grating topography.
View details for DOI 10.1364/AO.57.004421
View details for Web of Science ID 000433959100011
View details for PubMedID 29877388
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Optical characterization of random anti-reflecting subwavelength surface structures on binary gratings
SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING. 2018
View details for DOI 10.1117/12.2284523
View details for Web of Science ID 000449778300015