CBGM Faculty - Dr. Shruti Sharma's Lab

Dr. Shruti Sharma

Shruti Sharma, MS, PhD

Associate Professor
Center for Biotechnology & Genomic Medicine
James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute
Department of Ophthalmology
Medical College of Georgia at 麻豆传媒映画

706-721-6522

shsharma@augusta.edu

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

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Research Interests

The Shruti Sharma Lab investigates the role of inflammation-induced endothelial dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

The lab has identified interleukin-6 (IL-6) trans-signaling as a novel therapeutic target and demonstrated that the IL-6 trans-signaling inhibitor sgp130Fc (Olamkicept) effectively reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, and retinal vascular damage in DR. This has led to an expanded focus on the roles of M眉ller glial cells, pericytes, and VEGF signaling in retinal diseases including the use of oxygen-induced retinopathy animal models to study M眉ller cell-mediated IL-6 signaling in ischemic angiogenesis. The Sharma lab is also exploring human tear protein biomarkers and conducting in-vitro studies using osmoprotectants to identify new therapeutic targets for dry eye disease (DED), with the overarching goal of developing therapies that preserve retinal and ocular surface health.

Projects

IL-6 signaling in DR:

IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that possess both anti- and pro-inflammatory properties. Our lab found that inhibiting pro-inflammatory, IL-6 trans-signaling, attenuates inflammation, and helps prevent the vascular dysfunction in the retina that can lead to vision loss.

IL-6 signaling in DR

Therapeutic targets in DED:

Our lab investigates the role of inflammation in DED, to find alternative therapeutic interventions. We center our work on understanding the mechanisms behind tear film instability and increased tear osmolarity, which are the major characteristics of DED.

Nile red staining

Nile red staining in hTCEpi cells

Translational research using ocular fluids:

Our large collection of human tear samples allows us to identify DED tear biomarkers to further advance our search for potential therapeutic DED targets.

Proteins detected in human tear samples.

Proteins detected in human tear samples

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, Glass J, Sharma A, Sharma S. Experimental Eye Research(2025)
Glass J, Robinson R, Edupuganti N, Altman J, Greenway G, Lee TJ, Zhi W, Sharma A, Sharma S. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science(2024)
Kontoh-Twumasi R, Budkin S, Edupuganti N, Vashishtha A, Sharma S. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science(2024)
Glass J, Robinson RL, Greenway G, Jones G, Sharma S. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science(2023)
Robinson R, Glass J, Sharma A, Sharma S. Scientific Reports (2022)
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Glass J, Robinson R, Lee TJ, Sharma A, Sharma S; International Journal of Translational Medicine (2021)
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Sharma S; Frontiers in Physiology (2021)
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Robinson R, Brown D, Churchwell L, Lee TJ, Kodeboyina SK, Bloom J, Sharma A, Sharma S; Cytokine(2021)
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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)
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Robinson R, Srinivasan M, Shanmugan A, Ward A, Ganapathy V, Bloom J, Sharma A, Sharma S; Redox Biology (2020)