Abigail Fahim, MD, PhD

 Abigail T. Fahim
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Medical School
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences
1000 Wall Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
[email protected]
Available to mentor
Abigail Fahim, MD, PhD
Abigail T. Fahim
Assistant Professor
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Links
  • Recent Publications

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    • Qualifications
    • Medical Retina Fellow
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, United States
      2016 - 2017
      Clinical Fellowship
    • Retinal Dystrophy Fellow
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Ann Arbor, United States
      2015 - 2016
      Clinical Fellowship
    • Retinal Dystrophy Fellow
      Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
      2015 - 2015
      Clinical Fellowship
    • Chief Resident
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Ann Arbor, United States
      2014 - 2015
      Chief Resident
    • Residency
      University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Ann Arbor, United States
      2011 - 2014
      Residency
    • Transitional year
      The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, United States
      2010 - 2011
      Internship
    • Postdoctoral Fellowship
      The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, United States
      2009 - 2010
      Postdoctoral Research

    Center Memberships
    • Center Member
      Center for Cell Plasticity and Organ Design

    Research Overview

    Many forms of retinal degeneration, including inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cause irreversible blindness and are largely untreatable. The Fahim lab uses cell culture and animal models of IRDs and AMD to understand these diseases at the molecular level and identify therapeutic targets. The lab uses a variety of models and techniques, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), CRISPR/Cas-9 gene editing, viral vector gene delivery, and mouse models.
    Dr. Fahim also has a clinical practice as an IRD specialist and participates in IRD clinical trials, which informs her research questions for maximum translational impact and also supports her research through patient-derived iPSCs. Our mission is to advance understanding of the molecular pathways leading to retinal degeneration in IRDs and to identify therapeutic targets for these blinding diseases.

    Links
    • Fahim Reserach Lab

    Recent Publications

     See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Correction: Raeker et al. Reduced Retinal Pigment Epithelial Autophagy Due to Loss of Rab12 Prenylation in a Human iPSC-RPE Model of Choroideremia. Cells 2024, 13, 1068.
      Raeker MÖ, Perera ND, Karoukis AJ, Chen L, Feathers KL, Ali RR, Thompson DA, Fahim AT. Cells, 2026 Jul 21; 15 (14): DOI:10.3390/cells15141303
      PMID: 42505423
    • Journal Article
      High-Density Lipoprotein Nanoparticles Delivering Liver X Receptor Agonist for the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
      Mei L, Weh E, Yu M, Walsh L, Fahim AT, Liu Y, Besirli CG, Schwendeman A. Mol Pharm, 2026 May 22; DOI:10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5c01852
      PMID: 42172633
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      A human co-culture model of choroideremia implicates MMP2 as a potential link between Rab prenylation defects and RPE-choroid atrophy
      Fahim A, Karoukis A, Perera ND, Raeker M. 2026 May 30;
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      MMP2 links Rab prenylation defects and RPE-choroid atrophy in choroideremia
      Fahim A, karoukis A, Perera ND, Raeker M. 2026 May 4;
    • Proceeding / Abstract / Poster
      Multimodal PAM, OCT, and fluorescence imaging guided stem cell treatment of macular degeneration
      Nguyen VP, Qian W, Fahim A, Wang X, Paulus YM. Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging Proceedings of SPIE, 2025 Dec 18; 13937: DOI:10.1117/12.3098066
    • Journal Article
      Female Simplex Carriers of X-Linked Retinal Dystrophies: A Case Series
      Delaney A, Branham KE, Jayasundera KT, Khan NW, Fahim AT. Case Reports in Ophthalmology, 2025 Dec 1; 16 (1): 395 - 405. DOI:10.1159/000546129
    • Journal Article
      Addressing Challenges in Developing Treatments for Inherited Retinal Diseases: Recommendations From the Third Monaciano Symposium
      Thompson DA, Jayasundera KT, Alekseev O, Ali RR, Amato A, Arshavsky VY, Audo IS, Auricchio A, Bainbridge JWB, Banin E, Besirli CG, Birch DG, Branham KE, Cideciyan AV, Daiger SP, Duncan JL, Fahim A, Flannery JG, Gattegna R, Heckenlively JR, Héon E, Iannaccone A, Khan NW, Khateb S, Klassen HJ, Leroy BP, Marangoni D, Michaelides M, Musch DC, Pennesi ME, Petersen-Jones SM, Pierce EA, Rao RC, Sahel J-A, Sieving PA, Strettoi E, Strong CR, Wubben TJ, Yang P, Zacks DN. Translational Vision Science & Technology, 2025 Aug 27; 14 (8): 37 - 37. DOI:10.1167/tvst.14.8.37
    • Journal Article
      The Prevalence of Foveal Hypoplasia in Inherited Retinal Diseases
      Abuzaitoun R, Branham K, Schlegel D, Jayasundera KT, Fahim AT. Journal of Clinical & Translational Ophthalmology, 2025 Aug 13; 3 (3): 11 - 11. DOI:10.3390/jcto3030011