UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Iqbal Ahmad, PhD

Professor, UNMC Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Associate dean, director, UNMC Office of Postdoctoral Education
Chair, UNMC Scientific Research Oversight Committee

Iqbal Ahmad

Dr. Ahmad is a professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, who researches regenerative medicine in the retina to understand and advance treatments for blinding diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.

He is an associate dean and director of UNMC postdoctoral education and research. He chairs the UNMC Scientific Research Oversight Committee. Dr. Ahmad is a standing member of an NIH study section (PED1).

Education
  • BS: Patna University, Patna, India
  • MS: Patna University, Patna, India
  • PhD: Kent State University, Kent, OH
  • Graduate Education: Cell and Molecular Biology, Kent State University, 1990
  • Postdoctoral Training: Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, 1994
Research

Dr. Ahmad is a developmental neurobiologist studying stem cell regulation in the developing mammalian retina. He is using the emerging information on retinal stem cell biology toward following aims:

1. Ex-vivo stem cell approach to retinal degeneration: Transplantation of stem cell-derived retinal neurons to treat photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cell (RGCs) degeneration in animal models of RP/AMD and glaucoma.

2. Disease modeling: Generate human disease in a dish model of RP/AMD and glaucoma to understand the disease process in controlled conditions.

3. Therapeutic activation of endogenous retinal stem cells: Repairing the diseased retinal from within by pharmacological activation of dormant stem cells (=Muller glia)

Research

Leadership
Board of Director, Nebraska Coalition for Lifesaving Cures