Celebrating LVPEI at ARVO 2025

May 2025

One of the world’s premier eye research conferences, the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), concluded this month at Salt Lake City, USA. At a ceremony on 7 May, Dr Geeta Vemuganti, Distinguished Pathologist and Scientist at LVPEI, received the Mildred Weisenfeld Award.

In her acceptance speech, Geeta shared her journey in ocular pathology, highlighting her pioneering work with stem cells and their regenerative capabilities. These advances have enabled corneal epithelial cell transplantation, a key innovation in LVPEI’s ocular surface reconstruction efforts. She also discussed research into stem-cell-based regeneration of the lacrimal gland, a potential treatment avenue for Dry Eye Disease (DED), which is projected to affect nearly 40% of India’s urban population by 2030.

LVPEI researchers, in collaboration with the University of Hyderabad, are also investigating cancerous stem cells involved in retinoblastoma, developing cost-effective models for drug testing and targeted delivery systems.

With more than 250 publications and three decades of research, Dr Geeta Vemuganti has mentored generations of researchers and contributed significantly to global eye research through ARVO leadership roles.

A Strong LVPEI Presence at ARVO 2025

Geeta was one of four LVPEI awardees this year. Dr Mudit Tyagi, Dr Swathi Kaliki, and Dr Vishal Raval were also recognized during the meeting.

A multidisciplinary LVPEI delegation of over 40 clinicians, scientists, PhD students, and principal investigators participated in the conference. About half received prestigious travel grants. Together, they presented more than 12 papers and 30 posters and contributed to plenary sessions covering vision sciences, oculomics, genetics, microbiology, pathology, and social science.

From Laboratory to Life: Tackling Real-World Challenges

Dr Vijaya Gothwal led a global plenary session on managing cognitive and motor decline in aging populations with vision impairment, emphasizing the links between vision loss and dementia.

Dr Sayan Basu moderated a session on the ocular surface, tear film, and lacrimal gland, bringing together international perspectives on ocular health.

Research presentations from LVPEI covered:

• 3D bioprinting
• Infections and inflammation
• Innovative drug delivery systems
• Refractive errors and myopia
• New surgical techniques

Researchers also explored broader societal issues:

• Dr Deeksha Thorat presented findings on workplace safety gaps related to ocular chemical injuries.
• Dr Ponnari Gottipati discussed the “leaky pipeline” phenomenon, addressing the decline of women in leadership roles as careers progress.

Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

These achievements reflect decades of investment in research at LVPEI. A notable photograph from ARVO featured Dr Gullapalli N Rao, LVPEI’s founder chair, alongside the 2025 awardees.

The article also acknowledges the contributions of:

• Dr D Balasubramanian, Emeritus Chair of Research
• Prof Brien Holden
• Dr Kallam Anji Reddy of Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
• Sreekanth Ravi and Sudhakar Ravi, co-founders of SonicWall
• Numerous global partners and research collaborators

The article concludes with a message from Prashant Garg celebrating the team’s accomplishments and encouraging continued innovation and collaboration in vision science.

– Prashant Garg