Rajesh Rao
Leonard G Miller Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Associate Professor of Pathology
Associate Professor of Human Genetics
Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
1000 Wall Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
[email protected]

Available to mentor

Rajesh Rao
Associate Professor
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • Qualifications
    • Fellowship
      Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, 2013
    • Residency
      Harvard University, Boston, 2011
    • Research Fellow
      Harvard Medical School, Ophthalmology, 2011
    • Internship
      Northwestern University, Internal Medicine, 2008
    • Research Scholar
      National Institutes of Health, Neural Stem Cell Signaling and Metabolism, 2006
    • Research Scholar
      Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, 2006
    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics
    • Center Member
      Global REACH
    • Center Member
      Rogel Cancer Center
    • Center Member
      Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design
    • Center Member
      Biosciences Initiative
    • Center Member
      Taubman Institute
    Research Overview

    Stem cells for regeneration of retina and central nervous system
    Epigenetics and chromatin modifying enzymes
    Retinal development
    Hereditary and age-related retinal degenerations
    Retinal Detachment
    Proliferative vitreoretinopathy
    Tumors of the eye/orbit

    Recent Publications See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      AMD and Stem Cell-Based Therapies.
      Giacalone JC, Parkinson DH, Balikov DA, Rao RC. Int Ophthalmol Clin, 2024 Jan 1; 64 (1): 21 - 33. DOI:10.1097/IIO.0000000000000510
      PMID: 38146879
    • Journal Article
      Author Correction: Quiescence enables unrestricted cell fate in naive embryonic stem cells.
      Khoa LTP, Yang W, Shan M, Zhang L, Mao F, Zhou B, Li Q, Malcore R, Harris C, Zhao L, Rao RC, Iwase S, Kalantry S, Bielas SL, Lyssiotis CA, Dou Y. Nat Commun, 2024 Mar 12; 15 (1): 2215 DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-46566-4
      PMID: 38472240
    • Journal Article
      Quiescence enables unrestricted cell fate in naive embryonic stem cells.
      Khoa LTP, Yang W, Shan M, Zhang L, Mao F, Zhou B, Li Q, Malcore R, Harris C, Zhao L, Rao RC, Iwase S, Kalantry S, Bielas SL, Lyssiotis CA, Dou Y. Nat Commun, 2024 Feb 26; 15 (1): 1721 DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-46121-1
      PMID: 38409226
    • Journal Article
      A novel interaction between RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL3 and RREB1.
      Xu J, Sivakumar C, Ryan CW, Rao RC. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2024 Nov 12; 733: 150668 DOI:10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150668
      PMID: 39278095
    • Journal Article
      Posterior Uveitis in Ocular-Involving Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and the Utility of Negative MYD88 L265P Testing in the Diagnosis.
      Balikov DA, Brown NA, Elner VM, Wubben TJ, Rao RC, Demirci H. Ocul Oncol Pathol, 2024 Jun; 10 (2): 103 - 113. DOI:10.1159/000535951
      PMID: 38882022
    • Journal Article
      Liquid Biopsy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Human Vitreous Reveals Inflammatory T-Cell Signature.
      Haliyur R, Parkinson DH, Ma F, Xu J, Li Q, Huang Y, Tsoi LC, Bogle R, Liu J, Gudjonsson JE, Rao RC. Ophthalmol Sci, 2024 4 (6): 100539 DOI:10.1016/j.xops.2024.100539
      PMID: 39220810
    • Journal Article
      Cell-Free DNA Extraction of Vitreous and Aqueous Humor Specimens for Diagnosis and Monitoring of Vitreoretinal Lymphoma.
      Brown NA, Rao RC, Betz BL. J Vis Exp, 2024 Jan 12; (203): DOI:10.3791/65708
      PMID: 38284545
    • Journal Article
      Cost Drivers of Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Retinal Detachment: Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing Analysis.
      Haliyur R, Portney DS, Pan WW, Mian SI, Rao RC. J Vitreoretin Dis, 2024 Oct 10; 24741264241279624 DOI:10.1177/24741264241279624
      PMID: 39539821
    Featured News & Stories
    Department News
    Highlighted Publications - September 2024
    Department of Human Genetics faculty are involved in widely diverse areas of research, from Genome Structure and Function research to Evolutionary and Population Genetics.