Aparna
Lakkaraju

Dr. Aparna Lakkaraju is a Professor of Ophthalmology at UCSF and an internationally recognized expert in retinal biology. Her research focuses on the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and its dysfunction in macular degenerations. Dr. Lakkaraju has led major NIH- and foundation-funded projects to uncover how mitochondrial stress, complement activation, and impaired autophagy contribute to RPE damage and vision loss. She has pioneered imaging methods that track mitochondrial function and intracellular trafficking in live retinal tissues. An esteemed mentor, she has trained over 50 vision scientists and directs the Postdoctoral Training Program in Ophthalmology and co-directs the Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics graduate program at UCSF. Dr. Lakkaraju currently serves as Chair of the NIH National Eye Institute’s Board of Scientific Counselors. She is also the recipient of the 2021 Lorraine Maresca Innovative Research Award from BrightFocus Foundation.