UCSF vision researcher Anbukkarasi Muniyandi, PhD, has been selected as an “Emerging Vision Scientist (EVS)” by the National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR). This distinguished honor recognizes her exceptional contributions to the field of vision research and provides an opportunity to advocate for the future of eye health on a national level.
Anbukkarasi Muniyandi, PhD
The EVS program brings together the brightest minds in vision science. Participants including Muniyandi recently engaged with the members of Congress and the Senate in Washington, D.C., sharing their groundbreaking research and advocating for crucial funding. This program is vital for fostering innovation and ensuring continued progress in preventing, treating, and curing eye diseases.
"I'm a passionate advocate for today's research in ophthalmology and tomorrow's well-being of our patients," says Muniyandi, senior research scientist in the Ou Lab of UCSF’s Department of Ophthalmology. “It is an honor to be selected for this program and be able to advocate for vision research funding.”
UCSF Department of Ophthalmology is a leader in vision research, dedicated to discovering new and advanced treatments for a variety of eye conditions. Continued support from the National Eye Institute (NEI) and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Vision Research Program (CDMRP) is essential for sustaining the department’s efforts and making breakthroughs that improve lives.
Muniyandi joined the Ou lab at UCSF in March 2024, where she has been studying the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma. Before coming to UCSF, she did her postdoctoral research at the Indiana University School of Medicine where she studied angiogenic mechanisms of potential drug targets for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. She received her PhD in Animal Science with a specialization in Ophthalmology at Bharathidasan University, India.
She will continue to advocate as an EVS on Capitol Hill in 2025 during the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology’s (ARVO) advocacy day in February.
