Recent Grants and Awards at Columbia Opthalmology
The Department of Ophthalmology is proud to recognize four outstanding investigators whose recent honors reflect both Columbia’s research excellence and the innovation shaping the future of vision science.
Advancing Artificial Intelligence and Vision Science
Kaveri A. Thakoor, PhD, MPhil, MS, BS, assistant professor of ophthalmic science and director of the Artificial Intelligence for Vision Science Laboratory, has been honored with the RPB/Tom Wertheimer Career Development Award in Data Science, a four-year grant supporting early-career vision scientists whose work leverages big data and AI to improve disease detection and treatment.
Dr. Thakoor’s laboratory develops advanced machine learning tools to enhance accessibility and accuracy in eye disease detection, focusing on low-cost, portable imaging devices. “This award will enable us to move from proof of concept to real-world implementation,” she says. “Our goal is to bring high-quality imaging and AI-driven diagnosis to the communities that need it most.”
Unlocking New Insights in Glaucoma Research
Revathi Balasubramanian, PhD, assistant professor of ophthalmology, has also received the RPB Career Development Award, along with grants from both the Glaucoma Foundation and the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Her research focuses on the biology of ocular drainage structures and glaucoma risk.
“We’re looking at glaucoma not just as an eye disease, but as a neurodegenerative process that could teach us about the brain as a whole,” Dr. Balasubramanian says. “These grants give us freedom to explore questions that might not fit into traditional funding structures, and to bring students into the lab so they can see discovery in action.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Vision Scientists
Abdul Hannan, PhD, an associate research scientist in Dr. Balasubramanian’s lab, has received the 2025 Career Starter Grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. for his project “Models and Mechanisms of Pediatric Glaucoma.” This award supports early-stage researchers pursuing innovative approaches to childhood vision loss.
Recognizing Leadership and Service in Ophthalmology
Aakriti Garg Shukla, MD, the Leonard A. Lauder Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, recieved the 2025 Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Dr. Shukla’s work centers on improving the diagnosis and management of complex glaucomas and on mentoring early-career ophthalmologists through national and international organizations.