Dr. Pattabiraman is a biomedical scientist, trained in Neurobiology and Cell Biology, and is currently an Associate Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Pattabiraman’s research investigates how compartmentalized metabolism and cellular mechanobiology regulate trabecular meshwork function, intraocular pressure, and fibrotic remodeling in glaucoma. His work integrates protein–RNA biochemistry, biomolecular condensate biology, and advanced cellular localization approaches to dissect how metabolic and signaling pathways reshape extracellular matrix structure and tissue stiffness in ocular disease. By combining mechanistic studies with translational strategies, Dr. Pattabiraman and his team aim to identify novel metabolic checkpoints and therapeutic targets to prevent vision loss and blindness due to glaucoma. His laboratory further seeks to bridge the gap between ocular hypertension and retinal dysfunction by defining novel disease mechanisms that can be leveraged for targeted therapeutic interventions. Dr. Pattabiraman’s lab has been funded by the National Eye Institute/National Institutes of Health and by foundations including the Shaffer Grant for Innovative Glaucoma Research from the Glaucoma Research Foundation, the Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter Research Trust Fund, and the Catalyst Research Grant from the Sturge-Weber Foundation.

Dr. Pattabiraman joined the Board of Trustees of AOPT in 2021, was elected Secretary in 2023, and was recently elected Treasurer in 2026. He was the Chair of the Organizing Committee in 2023, hosting the XVI Biennial Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana.