Dr. Gulab Zode | Glaucoma | Best Researcher Award | 

Professor, at UCI School of Medicine, United States.

Dr. Gulab Zode is a distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine, and an expert in translational vision research. With a strong background in molecular genetics and cell biology, his research focuses on understanding and developing innovative treatments for glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness. Dr. Zode has made significant contributions to the field through his work on protein misfolding, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and autophagy, and is pioneering CRISPR-based genome editing and small-molecule therapeutics for glaucoma treatment. His impactful research has earned him multiple prestigious awards, high-impact publications, and substantial NIH funding, positioning him as a leader in ophthalmology and vision science.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Dr. Zode earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Maharashtra, India (1998-2002). He then pursued a Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Genetics at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (2003-2008), where he studied glaucoma pathophysiology under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Wordinger. Following his Ph.D., he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa (2008-2013), focusing on the molecular genetics of glaucoma under Dr. Val Sheffield.

Professional Experience 💼

Dr. Zode has held multiple academic and research positions, beginning as a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (2003-2008). He then worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa (2008-2013). In 2014, he joined the North Texas Eye Research Institute as an Assistant Professor, where he was later promoted to Associate Professor (2018), Tenured Faculty (2019), and Professor (2022). Additionally, he served as the Associate Director of Research at the North Texas Eye Research Institute (2022). In 2023, he was appointed Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine, where he continues to lead groundbreaking research in vision science.

Research Interests 🌍

Dr. Zode’s research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying glaucoma, specifically focusing on protein misfolding, ER stress, autophagy, and mitophagy in trabecular meshwork (TM) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). His laboratory has developed novel glaucoma mouse models and genetic tools to study these mechanisms. Additionally, he is pioneering CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing approaches to knock out key genes involved in glaucoma pathogenesis, along with exploring mRNA-based delivery methods for precise gene therapy. His work also includes the development of small-molecule chaperones to target protein misfolding and ER stress as potential therapeutic interventions for glaucoma.

Awards & Honors 🏆

Dr. Zode has received numerous prestigious awards for his outstanding research, including the 2024 RPB Stein Innovation Award and the 2023 Alcon Senior Scientist Award from Alcon Research Institute. His past recognitions include the 2018 Rising Star Innovation Award, the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (2012), and the Lewis Rudin Glaucoma Prize (2018). He was also a nominee for the TEMES Award in 2021, recognizing outstanding researchers in Texas. Additionally, he has won multiple first prizes for research presentations and travel grants from esteemed organizations such as ARVO and the American Society of Human Genetics.

Top Noted Publications 📚

Conclusion

Dr. Zode is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award, given his strong research impact in ophthalmology, extensive funding, innovation in glaucoma treatment, and recognition through prestigious awards. Strengthening international collaborations, policy impact, industry partnerships, and high-impact publications would further enhance his competitiveness for top-tier global research honors.