The Scheie Eye Institute welcomes Moksha Laxmi, PhD, a dedicated researcher with a passion for advancing and improving ocular science. She earned her Ph.D. in ocular pharmacology and pharmacy from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India where her research focused on elucidating drug transporter functions within the Blood Ocular Barriers during ocular inflammation. She holds a Bachelor's in Pharmacy from GGSIPU, New Delhi, India, and a Master's degree in Pharmacy from ISF College of Pharmacy, Punjab, India, where she gained theoretical and practical exposure to pharmaceutical sciences.
Dr. Laxmi's role at the Scheie Eye Institute involves utilizing cellular and murine systems to evaluate variants of genome- wide significance identified in the POAAGG study. This study, led by Dr. Joan O'Brien, focuses on understanding the genetic architecture of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in African Americans. The Center for Genetics of Complex Disease, also under Dr. O'Brien's leadership, aims to uncover the genetics of diseases disproportionately affecting understudied populations, with the ultimate objective of developing personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Additionally, Dr. Laxmi will collaborate with Dr. Yuyan Cheng, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Penn, who specializes in functional genomics, computational biology, and experimental animal models to understand the biology of neurodegeneration and to discover potential therapeutic for neural repair. Together, they will utilize single-cell and spatial genomics approaches to resolve retinal degenerative disorders. This collaboration signifies a multidisciplinary effort to address complex eye diseases and develop crucial solutions for diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Laxmi's belief in the transformative power of vision, both philosophically and biologically, fuels her motivation to contribute to the ongoing efforts at the Scheie Eye Institute to fight blindness through high-quality research and development.
Beyond her research pursuits, Dr. Laxmi is actively involved in community outreach activities. She has worked on environmental antibiotic dispersion and its effect on antimicrobial resistance in India, demonstrating her commitment to addressing global health challenges. Additionally, she volunteered in initiatives aimed at overcoming COVID-19, producing hand sanitizers and face shields to support frontline workers during the pandemic back in India. Dr. Laxmi, a registered pharmacist, volunteered at the hospital pharmacy in AIIMS, New Delhi, India dispensing pediatric doses and formulating medications to serve underprivileged patients.
Dr. Laxmi has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the field of ocular science. Her research efforts have been published in various national and international journals, and she has received accolades such as the PC Dandiya award for poster presentation at AIGJCON Indian Pharmacological Society, highlighting her work in ocular pharmacology.
Dr. Laxmi envisions herself continuing to make significant contributions to the mission and goals of the Scheie Eye Institute. She is committed to advancing our understanding of ocular diseases and developing novel therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes.
Outside of the lab, she loves to make recipes from her science cookbook and to create decorative or applied-art works. In her spare time, she loves spending quality time with her two toddlers (twin daughters) and her husband.