Vinay Aakalu
Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
1000 Wall Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
[email protected]

Available to mentor
Vinay Aakalu
Professor
  • Qualifications
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
    • Qualifications
    • Clinical Oculoplastic Surgery Fellow
      University of Illinois at Chicago, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 2012
    • Chief Resident
      University of Illinois at Chicago, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 2010
    • Resident, Ophthalmology Program
      University of Illinois at Chicago, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, 2009
    • Intern, Preliminary Medicine Residency Program
      St. Luke's - Roosevent Hospital Columbia University, Internal Medicine, 2007
    • MD
      Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 2006
    • MPH
      Columbia University, New York, NY, 2006
    • BA
      The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 2000
    Research Overview

    1. Developing therapeutics and an understanding of ocular surface epithelial function in health and disease (corneal wounds, dry eye disease, and ocular surface diseases).

    2. Development of new therapeutics for Niemann-Pick Type C disease (peptides and small molecules) and understanding the biology of these therapies through receptor and signaling biology of the TMEM97 protein

    3. Advancing translation of basic science innovations to clinical practice through engagement with multi-disciplinary academic and industrial experts.

    4. Evidence based approaches to oculoplastics and orbital disease conditions, including thyroid eye disease and ocular surface inflammatory conditions.

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Identifying the crucial binding domain of histatin-1 to recombinant TMEM97 in activating chemotactic migration in human corneal epithelial cells.
      Son K-N, Lee H, Lee SM, Pierre-Jacques D, Shah D, Cologna SM, Aakalu VK. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2024 Nov 12; 739: 150991 DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150991
      PMID: 39547121
    • Journal Article
      Approaches to Restoring Lacrimal Gland Function: From stem Cells to Tissue Engineering
      Lieu AC, Shoji MK, Aakalu VK, Liu CY. Current Ophthalmology Reports, 2024 Dec 1; 12 (4): 55 - 62. DOI:10.1007/s40135-024-00326-1
    • Journal Article
      Intraoperative Image Guidance in Orbital and Lacrimal Surgery: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
      McCulley TJ, Aakalu VK, Foster JA, Freitag SK, Dagi Glass LR, Grob SR, Tao JP, Vagefi MR, Yen MT, Yoon MK, Kim SJ, Wladis EJ. Ophthalmology, 2024 Nov; 131 (11): 1333 - 1338. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.05.014
      PMID: 38912980
    • Journal Article
      Oral Hedgehog Inhibitor, Vismodegib, for Locally Advanced Periorbital and Orbital Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
      Wladis EJ, Aakalu VK, Vagefi MR, Tao JP, McCulley TJ, Freitag SK, Foster JA, Kim SJ. Ophthalmology, 2024 Nov; 131 (11): 1339 - 1344. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2024.06.007
      PMID: 39001766
    • Journal Article
      Staged Excision Technique for Periocular Cutaneous Melanoma: Long-Term Outcomes of the Square Procedure.
      Mirzania D, Zhao Z, Weber M, Ahdoot R, Juntipwong S, Harms K, Aakalu VK, Kim DS, Demirci H, Nelson CC. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg, 2024 Jul 16; DOI:10.1097/IOP.0000000000002710
      PMID: 39012303
    • Journal Article
      Umbilical Amniotic Tissue Graft as an Alternative Approach for Eyelid Reconstruction after Necrotizing Fasciitis Debridement
      Mirzania D, Zhao Z, Kim DS, Aakalu VK, Nelson CC. Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2024 Jan 1; DOI:10.1097/IOP.0000000000002793
    • Journal Article
      Thermal Pulsation in the Management of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Dry Eye: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
      Tao JP, Shen JF, Aakalu VK, Foster JA, Freitag SK, McCulley TJ, Vagefi MR, Kim SJ, Wladis EJ. Ophthalmology, 2023 Dec; 130 (12): 1336 - 1341. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.07.009
      PMID: 37642619
    • Journal Article
      Use of Mitomycin C in Dacryocystorhinostomy: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
      Freitag SK, Aakalu VK, Foster JA, McCulley TJ, Tao JP, Vagefi MR, Yen MT, Kim SJ, Wladis EJ. Ophthalmology, 2023 Nov; 130 (11): 1212 - 1220. DOI:10.1016/j.ophtha.2023.06.024
      PMID: 37656088