CBGM Faculty - Dr. Shruti Sharma's Lab

Dr. Shruti Sharma

Shruti Sharma, MS, PhD

Professor
Center for Biotechnology & Genomic Medicine
James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute
Department of Ophthalmology
Medical College of Georgia at 麻豆AV

706-721-6522

shsharma@augusta.edu

Office: CA-4139 | Lab: CA-4132A

Jump to: Research Interests Projects Funding & Teaching Media Articles & Publications Graduate Students & Staff

Research Interests

The Shruti Sharma Lab employs molecular, cellular, and translational approaches to study diabetic retinopathy (DR) and dry eye disease (DED). Our lab utilizes in-vitro and in-vivo models to investigate mechanisms underlying inflammation, barrier dysfunction, retinal neurovascular injury, and ocular surface damage. A major focus of the lab is understanding the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling in ocular diseases, specifically: (1) how disruption of the IL-6 cis/trans-signaling balance in retinal M眉ller glial cells alters VEGF regulation and (2) whether selective inhibition of IL-6 trans-signaling using sgp130Fc can reduce inflammation and corneal injury in dry eye disease. We also investigate the osmoprotective effects of L-carnitine in preventing epithelial barrier disruption, oxidative stress, and ocular surface damage in DED.

Projects

IL-6 trans-signaling & Inflammation:

IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with both anti- & pro-inflammatory roles. Using pre-clinical models our lab has established that selectively inhibiting IL-6 trans-signaling with sgp130Fc can prevent oxidative stress, inflammation, barrier disruption and apoptosis in Diabetic retinopathy and Dry eye disease.

Therapeutic targets in DED:

The Sharma Lab uses hyperosmolar stress, benzalkonium chloride (BAC), & desiccating stress models to examine the molecular mechanisms of dry eye disease (DED) in corneal epithelial cells & mice. Our current research evaluates whether supplementation with L-carnitine, an osmoprotectant, can prevent ocular surface instability & dysfunction characteristic of DED pathology.

Translational research using ocular fluids:

We collect & analyze tear fluid samples from patients and mice with & without DED. Our research aims to identify potential biomarkers of DED through the detection of differentially expressed microRNAs & proteins in human & mouse tears.

Funded Grants & Teaching

Funding:

NIH/NEI R01 grant: 鈥淭argeting Interleukin-6 cis-trans balance in M眉ller cell dysfunction鈥�

NIH/NEI R01 grant: 鈥淪ex-specific Influences on tear microRNAs in dry eye disease鈥�

Intramural Grant: Investigating Potential Treatments for Dry Eye Disease in Mouse Models

Teaching:

Course Director, Translational Genomics and Proteomics (GNMD 8051)

Course Director, Genomic Medicine Seminar (GNMD 8060)
Course Director, Functional Genomics and Proteomics Using Animal Models (GNMD8052)

Selected Publications & Media Articles

Kontoh-Twumasi R, Aliste A, Scheid A, Lax K, Glass J, Sharma A, Sharma S. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2026)

Kontoh-Twumasi R, Aliste A, Scheid A, Glass J, Sharma A, Sharma S.鈥�Experimental Eye Research (2025)

Glass J, Robinson R, Edupuganti N, Altman J, Greenway G, Lee TJ, Zhi W, Sharma A, Sharma S.鈥�Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2024)

Glass J, Robinson RL, Greenway G, Jones G, Sharma S.鈥�Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2023)

Robinson R, Glass J, Sharma A, Sharma S.鈥�Scientific Reports (2022)

Glass J, Robinson R, Lee TJ, Sharma A, Sharma S.鈥�International Journal of Translational Medicine (2021)

Sharma S. Frontiers in Physiology (2021)

Robinson R, Youngblood H, Iyer H, Bloom J, Lee TJ, Chang L, Lukowski Z, Zhi W, Sharma A, Sharma S. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2020)

Robinson R, Srinivasan M, Shanmugan A, Ward A, Ganapathy V, Bloom J,鈥疭harma A, Sharma S.鈥�Redox Biology (2020)
Valle M, Dworshak J, Sharma A, Ibrahim A, Al-Shabrawey M, Sharma S. Experimental Eye Research (2019)