Rupalatha Maddala

Dr. Maddala was recently promoted to Associate Professor of Ophthalmology following her
post-doctoral fellowship and research scientist roles in the Rao Laboratory. She has a keen
interest in fundamental biological research. Her research is focused on ocular lens and
glaucoma. Dr. Maddala's post doctorial research demonstrated the essential role of Rho, Rac
and Rap1 GTPases in lens development and function.

During her time as a research scientist, her research discovered that the lens expresses S100A4,
a small molecular calcium binding protein which exhibits a lens fiber cell-specific, discrete
distribution profile, an independent research project that was NIH-funded.

Dr. Maddala’s long term plans include understanding lens and trabecular meshwork (TM)
biology and function as they relate to ocular dysfunction and identification of new therapies to
address unmet needs in ocular disease. She has been invited to present her research at ISER
meetings in Berlin and Montreal, Lens and Cataract meeting of NFER in Hawaii and ARVO
annual conferences. She also enjoys teaching undergraduate, medical and postdoctorial
students.