Dr. Lisa Ostrin & Dr. Sayan Ghosh Expand College’s Research Activity in Myopia, Ocular Development and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
New York, NY — SUNY College of Optometry announced today that it is strengthening its research activity with the arrival of two vision scientists whose work will expand the College’s expertise in areas with significant implications for patient care, public health and the future of vision science.
Lisa Ostrin, OD, PhD, FAAO, FARVO, has joined SUNY Optometry as Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, bringing nationally recognized expertise in ocular development, myopia and circadian visual physiology. Sayan Ghosh, PhD, has joined the College as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological and Vision Sciences, where his research will focus on age-related macular degeneration, chronic inflammation and potential new pathways for delaying disease progression.
Together, their arrival strengthens SUNY Optometry’s growing research bench and advances the College’s commitment to translating scientific discovery into real-world impact for patients and communities.
“Dr. Ostrin and Dr. Ghosh represent the kind of scientific leadership and innovation that will help define the next chapter of research at SUNY Optometry,” said Dr. David Troilo, President of SUNY College of Optometry. “Dr. Ostrin brings exceptional experience as a vision scientist, mentor and academic leader at a time when the College is expanding its national and international research profile. Dr. Ghosh brings an exciting translational research program focused on age-related macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of vision loss among older adults. Their work reflects our commitment to advance vision science, improve patient care and train the next generation of leaders in eye and vision research.”
Dr. Ostrin joins SUNY Optometry from the University of Houston College of Optometry, where she was a tenured professor and a leading investigator in myopia research. Her research has been supported by the National Eye Institute, the Binational Science Foundation, Meta, Topcon and other partners, and she has served in leadership roles across national and international vision science organizations.
In addition to her role at SUNY Optometry, Dr. Ostrin will transition into the role of Editor-in-Chief of Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, one of the field’s leading peer-reviewed journals, throughout 2027. Her appointment will begin in 2028.
“Joining SUNY Optometry at this moment is an extraordinary opportunity to help build on the College’s strong foundation in research, education and clinical care,” said Dr. Ostrin. “Vision science is advancing rapidly, and SUNY Optometry is well positioned to contribute to discoveries that improve how we understand, prevent and treat eye disease. I look forward to working with faculty, students, residents and partners to grow the College’s research enterprise and support the next generation of investigators.”
Dr. Ghosh joins SUNY Optometry from Johns Hopkins University, where he served as a research associate. He previously completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pittsburgh and received a highly competitive National Institutes of Health K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, which supports promising researchers as they transition into independent academic faculty positions. The R00 phase of the award will support Dr. Ghosh’s lab, salary, and research at SUNY Optometry over the next three years.
Dr. Ghosh’s research focuses on age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, a leading cause of vision loss among older adults. His work seeks to better understand the biological mechanisms that contribute to dry AMD, the most common form of the disease, and to identify strategies that could delay disease progression and preserve vision.
“Age-related macular degeneration has a profound impact on patients’ independence and quality of life, and there remains a critical need for new approaches that slow or prevent vision loss,” said Dr. Ghosh. “My goal is to understand the mechanisms that drive disease progression and translate that knowledge into strategies that can ultimately help patients. SUNY Optometry offers an outstanding environment to build this work, with strong research infrastructure and a clear commitment to moving discovery from the bench to the bedside.”
Dr. Ghosh’s lab will focus on two parallel areas of research. The first will examine the formation of drusen, the deposits associated with dry AMD and explore whether targeting specific biological pathways can delay disease progression. The second will investigate how diet, the gut microbiome and chronic inflammation may influence AMD, with the goal of identifying mechanisms that could be used to reduce inflammation and slow the disease.
Dr. Ghosh earned his master’s degree in neuroscience and PhD from the University of Calcutta and came to the United States as a Fulbright scholar. His work combines disease biology, animal models, genetic tools, and translational approaches aimed at identifying potential therapeutic pathways for patients with AMD.
About SUNY Optometry
Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. The College conducts a robust program of basic, translational and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites as well as an on-site clinic, the University Eye Center. SUNY Optometry is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education. All classrooms, research facilities and the University Eye Center, one of the largest optometric outpatient facilities in the nation, are located on 42nd Street in midtown Manhattan. To learn more about SUNY Optometry, visit www.sunyopt.edu.
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