Main Research interests

Genetics of Ocular diseases

Tissue and Cell culture, Stem Cell culture

Multidrug resistance

Angiogenesis in ARMD and glaucoma

Noopur Gupta is a Cornea faculty at Dr. R P Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi. With more than 14 years of teaching and research experience behind her, she has made significant scientific deliberations as chairperson, instructor, judge and faculty at various regional, national and international conferences including World Ophthalmology Congress, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and ASIA ARVO.

She was awarded the first prize and Excellence in Ophthalmic Research at 63rd AIOS, 2005. She received the ORBIS International Medal for best paper contributing to prevention of blindness in developing world at ESCRS, 2009 for her work on keratomalacia. Her extensive work on dry eye has been lauded at the Annual Conference of All India Ophthalmological Society (Best Paper, 2003) and published as Cover Story in Ocular Surgery News, APAO edition 2012 for being invited as the Dry eye expert faculty in Asia Pacific Region.

With more than 100 publications to her credit, she is a reviewer and editor of many national and international journals including IOVS. She has been instrumental in planning and implementation of population-based studies on trachoma, corneal blindness, diabetic retinopathy, RAAB, RAVI, and impact of global warming on ocular health. She is credited for conducting the first population-based study on corneal diseases in India, as part of her doctoral research at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. As a key ophthalmologist and Expert Advisor, she has led trachoma surveys in Andaman Nicobar islands and helped in advocacy to reduce the burden of trachoma in these islands.

Educational Qualifications

• MBBS Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi
• MS Ophthalmology Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi
• DNB National Board of Examinations
• FRCS (I) Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
• PhD (Community Ophthalmology) All India Institute of Medical Sciences

Research Experience

• As Expert Advisor, team leader, resource person trainer for national level and regional surveys- Trachoma Rapid Assessment, Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment Survey, NPCB National Trachoma Survey, Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness, Knowledge Attitude Practice Study in Urban Slums, DR-QEDJT, DR Innovation Project.
• Clinical Trials- as Co-investigator Clinical Research Co-ordinator = 10

Epidemiological Research Projects= 16 Reviewer

Lead Guest Editor of Journal of Ophthalmology

Reviewer of many international and national indexed journals (IOVS, IJO , Scientific World Journal, International Ophthalmology, International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals, Journal of Clinical Experimental Ophthalmology, Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology and Journal of Ophthalmology)

Invited Faculty Chairperson

Dry Eye Expert in Asia Pacific region-Cover story in Ocular Surgery News (Jul-Aug 2012)

Invited faculty, instructor, chairperson, judge- ASIA ARVO, APAO, MP State Action Plan by Vision 2020 and NPCB, National Meet for Strategic Planning For Glaucoma Management, AIOS, Annual Mid term DOS.

Area of Interest

• Cornea
• Eye Banking
• Contact lens
• Refractive Surgery
• Amniotic membrane transplantation

Dr.MurugesanVanathi completed her medical undergraduation MBBS from the prestigious Madras Medical College of Madras University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and joined her postgraduation, M.D. (Ophthalmology) from Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi in 1995. She completed her senior residency training in Cornea & ocular surface, Cataract & Refractive Surgery from Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. She has also worked as Senior Research Associate in Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi and Cornea Consultant, Aravind Eye Hospital and Postgraduate Institute, Pondicherry. She has been a faculty member in Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi since September 2005 and is currently working as Professor of Ophthalmology – Cornea & Ocular Surface, Cataract & Refractive Services of Section VI of the centre. She is also the Co-Office In-charge for National Eye Bank Services of Section VI of Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre of Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

She has also completed an international clinical fellowship in Cornea, from the renowned Singapore National Eye Institute, Singapore in advanced lamellar transplants of the cornea. She had extensive work experience in the field of cornea and ocular surface (medical and surgical), cataract & refractive surgery, limbal stem cell transplantation, and the various types of basic and advanced corneal transplantationprocedures.

She has to her credit over 80 indexed international publications including landmark review articles in the prestigious journals of Survey of Ophthalmology, and others such as Cornea, British Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Research, Ocular Surface and several others. She has contributed chapters for several international sub-specialty books in her field of expertise. She has also co-edited and written several sections of the popular current ophthalmic text book “POSTGRADUATE OPHTHALMOLOGY” and “UNDERGRADUATE OPHTHALMOLOGY”.

She is a compassionate and dedicated ophthalmic surgeon currently working actively in clinical, surgical and research and management diseases of the cornea, ocular surface and eye banking with in depth clinical expertise and special interest in advanced lamellar corneal transplants, limbal stem cell transplantation, ocular surface diseases, pediatric keratoplasty, besides routine clinical work.

She is an active member of several ophthalmic professional bodies including American Society of Cataract and Refractive Society, Cornea Society, Asia Cornea Society, All India Ophthalmic Society, Ocular Surface Society, Indian Intraocular implant and refractive surgery and several state societies including the Delhi Ophthalmic Society. She has served as executive member of Delhi Ophthalmological Society (2011 – 2013) and as Editor of Delhi Ophthalmological Society (2013 – 2015) and is the current General Secretary of Delhi Ophtlamological Society (2015 – 2017). She has been awarded the gold medal for excellence in ophthalmology by the Indian Intraocular implant and refractive surgery society. She is also on the editorial board and is a reviewer of several national and international scientific journals of her field of expertise. She is also the North Zone Chairperson of Eye Bank Association of India and the executive council member of Indian Cornea &Keratorefractive Surgeons Society. She has presented her original clinical and research work as scientific papers and has participated as faculty in several national and international conferences of her specialty. She is also actively involved in teaching undergraduates, ophthalmic paramedical personnel, clinical and surgical teaching of postgraduate and senior residents besides active participation in thesis work of several students.

Field of Expertise and Interest:

• Corneal diseases
• Ocular Surface Diseases
• Keratoplasty and Advanced Lamellar corneal transplantation (Penetrating keratoplasty, Therapeutic keratoplasty, DSAEK, DALK, SALK, ALTK, HALK, patch grafts etc)
• Stem cell deficiency and limbal stem cell transplantation
• Eye Banking
• Contact Lens
• Cataract Surgery
• Refractive Surgery (FemtoLASIKetc)

Educational Qualifications

MBBS : Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Medical College Raipur (C.G)

MD: Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Professional Experience

• Assistant Professor (Ophthalmology) – 22/05/2014 to present
  Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• Assistant Professor (Ophthalmology) – 11/07/2011 to 21/05/2014
  Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
• Senior Research Associate – 23/09/2009 to 10/07/2011
  Neuro-Ophthalmology and Strabismus Services,
  Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• Research Officer (Ophthalmology) – 07/01/2009 to 22/09/2009
  INDEYE Study of Cataract and Age-related Macular Degeneration India-INDGEN,
  Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
• Senior Resident – 07/01/2006 to 06/01/2009
  Neuro-Ophthalmology & Strabismus and Glaucoma Services,
  Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

Membership of Professional bodies

• World Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
• All India Ophthalmological Society
• Delhi Ophthalmological Society
• Strabismological Society of India

Dr. Neelam Pushker completed her undergraduate and postgraduate training from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. She also completed her Senior Residency training from Dr R P Centre, AIIMS. She joined as Faculty in Oculoplasty, Orbit and Tumor Services of Dr R P Centre, AIIMS, in 2000. She is currently working as Professor of Ophthalmology. She is surgically skilled in performing highly specialized orbital, lacrimal, socket and eyelid surgeries. Reconstructive procedures of eyelid, socket, congenital anomalies etc using grafts such as mucous membrane, skin, amniotic membrane, sclera and synthetic implants are routinely performed by her. She has vast experience in cosmetic and corrective surgeries such as blepharoplasty, ptosis, lid retraction, socket expansion, trauma etc. Treatment of benign and malignant orbital, ocular surface and eyelid tumors is a major part of her surgical and clinical experience. She has published more than 135 papers in peer reviewed indexed international journals and also some chapters in books. Amongst some recent awards, she has received Best Paper Award (OPAI), 2012; AIIMS Excellence Research Award, 2014 and Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology-Achievement Award, 2015. She is member of various scientific societies and reviewed papers for national and international journals. She has chaired sessions, performed live surgery, presented videos and delivered guest lectures in several national and international conferences and meetings.

Some of her pioneer and innovative work are in the field of eyelid reconstructive surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsy in eyelid tumors, orbital infection, ptosis, contracted socket, congenital periorbital anomalies and lacrimal problems. She has officiated as Chief Guide in about 20 MD thesis, also as a co-supervisor in M.D, PhD and D.M thesis. She has collaborated in basic sciences services research work on molecular and genetic aspects of tumors and congenital anomalies. Some of these researches have been published in high index journal viz. Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology and British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Namrata Sharma did her post-graduation from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

She did her fellowship from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK.

She is the Regional Secretary, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO).

She is the Honorary General Secretary of All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS).

Her clinical work includes phacoemulsification surgeries and foldable intraocular lens implantation and excimer laser refractive procedures such as Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) Small incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) and phakic intraocular lenses.

Her keen areas of interest are corneal transplantation including lamellar surgeries such as Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), anterior segment reconstructive procedures, ocular surface surgeries and keratoprosthesis. Her areas of research include all aspects of corneal diseases (including Keratoconus, Fuchs dystrophy, Chemical Injuries, Corneal Ulcers and Steven Johnson Syndrome) cataract and refractive surgeries as well as laboratorybased stem cell based therapies.

ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS

• General Secretary, All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS)
• President, Cornea Society of India (CSI)
• Vice-President, Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI)
• Vice-President, National Society for the Prevention of Blindness (NSPB)
• Regional Secretary, Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology
• General Secretary. Ophthalmic Research Association (ORA), R P Centre, AIIMS
• Chairperson Scientific Committee of Indian Society of Cornea and Keratorefractive Surgeons, (ISCKRS)
• Chairperson, Academic Research Committee at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS.
• Chairperson In-charge OT, Operation Theatre Committee (Main OT Day Care) at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS.
• Co-Chairperson of the Infection Surveillance Monitoring Committee at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS.
• Co- Chairperson, Eye Banking Eye Donation, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, AIIMS.
• Executive Member of Cornea Society of India (CSI); Member of Women Ophthalmic Society (WOS) and Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI)
• Ex- Secretary of Delhi Ophthalmological Society(DOS)
• Ex- Secretary of Eye Bank Association of India (EBAI)
• Has been the principal investigator in many multicentric international, FDA trials, and numerous randomized controlled clinical trials, which have changed the clinical practice patterns in the field of Cornea, Cataract Refractive Surgery.