Editor Profile

Padmanabhan Pattabiraman

University/Organization: Case Western Reserve University

Country: United States

 Biography

I have a PhD in Neurobiology. During my graduate school, I worked on the regulation and localization of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4 in plasticity of visual cortex. As a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, I focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating aqueous humor resistance, intraocular pressure homeostasis, and the pathobiology of glaucoma. During this period, I have contributed mainly towards understanding the cellular and molecular basis of Rho GTPase regulated actomyosin cytoskeletal tension and extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling. In addition, using a rodent model by overexpressing constitutively active RhoA, I have shown that constitutively active RhoA induces fibrogenic activity leading to ocular hypertension in a Rho kinase-dependent manner.

In continuation with my interests towards understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating aqueous humor outflow homeostasis, currently as a Scientist at Case Western Reserve University, I am looking into the cellular signaling events related to extracellular matrix homeostasis in the aqueous humor outflow pathway. The major focus includes - 1) understanding the role of physiological factors that contributes to the extracellular matrix regulation in the trabecular meshwork, 2) pathological signaling leading to increased aqueous humor outflow resistance, and c) achievement of mechanosensation and mechanotransduction in trabecular meshwork (TM) outflow pathway in physiology and pathophysiology. Using various tools including global approaches like gene arrays, proteomics, as well as molecular biology, electrophysiology, and imaging, I am trying to answer the scientific questions under my realm of research.