Revathi Balasubramanian, PhD

  • Assistant Professor of Ophthalmic Science (in Ophthalmology)

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Overview

For more than a decade, beginning with my graduate studies, I have led innovative research spanning both the posterior and anterior segments of the eye, establishing myself as a leader across the full spectrum of ocular biology. My work integrates deep expertise in ocular developmental biology, mouse genetics, stem cell biology, biomedical engineering, ocular physiology, and modern genomic and sequencing technologies. During my graduate training, I investigated the posterior segment, uncovering how transcription factors regulate amacrine cell development and subtype specification, and, through collaborative projects, defined key signaling pathways governing retinal pigment epithelium development. In my postdoctoral work, I shifted focus to the anterior segment, identifying signaling systems that direct ciliary margin development and laying the foundation for understanding disorders such as aniridia and coloboma. In my independent laboratory, I now study the development and function of aqueous humor drainage tissues, with the goal of advancing knowledge relevant to pediatric and adult glaucoma. Through pioneering single-cell transcriptomic and multiomic analyses, we were the first to identify molecular markers distinguishing Schlemm’s canal endothelial subtypes and trabecular meshwork cell populations, enabling new mechanistic insights into aqueous humor dynamics. These discoveries have catalyzed a broader research vision aimed at connecting aqueous humor regulation to optic nerve degeneration. By integrating developmental biology, systems genomics, and cross-modality data science, I seek to uncover how anterior segment dysfunction drives posterior segment neurodegeneration in glaucoma. The ultimate goal of my lab is to define the integrated biological networks linking aqueous humor outflow pathway disruptions to optic nerve health and degeneration.

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor of Ophthalmic Science (in Ophthalmology)

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • BS, 2008 Biotechnology, Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering, India
  • MS, 2009 Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, New York
  • PhD, 2014 Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York
  • Fellowship: 2019 Columbia University Medical Center

Honors & Awards

  • 2016 – 2018: Chair, Gordon Research Seminars on Visual System Development 
  • 2014: Society for Developmental Biology Travel Award 
  • 2013: Edward Curtis Peck Award for Excellence in Teaching by Graduate Student 
  • 2010: SPINES (Summer Program in Neuroscience, Ethics and Survival) Fellowship, Marine Biological Laboratories 

Research

The BALA lab investigates 'global' molecular changes in the eye that drive glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness in the United States and worldwide, affecting nearly 80 million people. Although often considered an age-related disease, glaucoma also presents in pediatric populations, where it has a strong genetic basis and severe clinical consequences.

By integrating transcriptomic, epigenomic, developmental, and functional analyses of anterior segment tissues with a broader understanding of retinal and optic nerve pathology in the posterior segment, the BALA lab lab aims to develop a holistic view of glaucoma pathogenesis.

Grants

  • The Glaucoma Foundation
    2025-2026
    The Role of Periostin in Early-Onset Glaucoma
  • Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award
    2025-2029
    Signaling in Schlemm's Canal Development and Congenital Glaucoma
  • Knights Templar Eye Foundation Career Starter Grant (PI: Abdul Hannan)
    2025-2026
    Models and mechanisms of pediatric glaucom
  • Glaucoma Research Foundation
    2024-2025
    Endothelin signaling in trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal development
  • BrightFocus Foundation National Glaucoma Research Award
    2021-2024
    Mechanisms of angle development and glaucoma
  • Knights Templar Eye Foundation Early Career Starter Grant
    2017-2019
  • NYSTEM Pre-Doctoral Training Grant
    2012-2014

Selected Publications

  1. Slavi, N*., Balasubramanian, R*., Lee, M.A., Liapin, M., Oaks-Leaf, R., Peregrin, J., Potenski, A., Troy, C., Ross, E., Herrera, E., Kosmidis, S., John, S.W.M., Mason, C. (2022) CyclinD2-mediated regulation of neurogenic output from the retinal ciliary margin is perturbed in albinism (Neuron, In press)
  2. Balasubramanian, R., Min, X., Quinn, P., Giudice, Q.L., Tao, C., Polanco, K., Makrides, N., Peregrin, J., Bouaziz, M.,Mao , Y., Wang, Q., Costa, B.L., Buenaventura, D., Wang, F., Ma, L., Tsang, S., Fabre, P.J., Zhang, X. (2021) Phase transition specified by a binary code patterns the vertebrate eye cup Science Advances
  3. Tolman, N.G., Balasubramanian, R., Macalinao, D.G., Kearney, A.L., MacNicoll, K.H., Montgomery, C.L., de Vries, W.N., Jackson, I.J., Cross, S.H., Kizhatil, K., Nair, K.S., John, S.W.M. (2021) Genetic background modifies vulnerability to glaucoma-related phenotypes in Lmx1b mutant mice. Dis. Model Mech.
  4. Harder J.M., Guymer, C., Wood, J.P.M., Daskalaki, E., Chidlow, G., Zhang, C., Balasubramanian, R., Cardozo, B.H., Foxworth, N.E., Deering, K.E., Ouellette, T.B., Montgomery, C., Wheelock, C.E., Casson, R.J., Williams, P.A., John, S.W.M. (2020) Disturbed glucose and pyruvate metabolism in glaucoma with neuroprotection by pyruvate or rapamycin. PNAS
  5. Iwai-Takekoshi, L., Balasubramanian, R., Sitko, A., Kahn, R., Weinreb, S., Robinson, K., and Mason. C. (2018) Activation of Wnt signaling reduces ipsilaterally-projecting retinal ganglion cells in pigmented retina. Development
  6. Zhang, Y., Yang, Y., Jiang, M., Huang, S., Mori, M., Chen, Y., Balasubramanian, R., Kim, E., Lin, S., Toste de Carvalho, A.L.R., Serra, C., Riccio, P., Bialecka, M., Lopes, S.M.C., Cardoso, W., Zhang, X., Snoeck, H.W., and Que, J. (2018) Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells reveals the role of NOTCH signaling in esophageal development. Cell Stem Cell
  7. Balasubramanian, R., Bui, A., and Gan. L. (2017) Lhx9 is required for the development of nitric-oxide synthesizing amacrine cell subtype. Molecular Neurobiology
  8. Ding, Q*., Balasubramanian, R*., Zheng, D., Liang, G. and Gan, L. (2016) Barhl2 determines the early patterning of diencephalon by regulating Shh signaling. Molecular Neurobiology
  9. Balasubramanian, R., Zhang, X. (2015) Mechanisms of FGF gradient formation during embryogenesis. Seminars in cell and developmental biology
  10. Balasubramanian, R. and Gan, L. (2014) Development of amacrine cells and their dendritic stratification. Current Ophthalmology reports
  11. Balasubramanian, R*.,Bui, A*.,Xie, X., Deng. M. and Gan. L. (2014) Generation and characterization of Lhx9 GFPCreER knock-in mouse line. Genesis (Cover illustration)
  12. Balasubramanian, R., Bui, A., Ding, Q. and Gan, L. (2013) Expression of LIM-Homeodomain transcription factors in the developing and mature mouse retina. Gene expression patterns

For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov