Hi my name is Krishnakumar Kizhatil and I’m at the Ohio State University in the Department of Ophthalmology and I work on glaucoma. So my research is focused on identifying the molecular mechanisms controlling the elevation of intra-ocular pressure which is a key factor for glaucoma. To make for efficacious drugs we need to actually find more specific targets in the structures called the drainage structures. Damage to the drainage structures prevents proper flow of the clear fluid out of the eye. That actually causes the increase in pressure. Intra-ocular pressure is the only diagnostic at this point and it’s the only treatable factor for controlling glaucoma. So I look at the structure from a morphological, cell biological, molecular, and genetic level. So in the future I’m actually starting to also work on the back of the eye to find mechanisms that can enhance in the Retinal ganglion cells to prevent their death in response to intra-ocular pressure. The reason I came to Ohio State is to actually come into contact with real people and figure out what their needs were and how I could help better their lives. That was another reason why I came here so this opportunity to interact with clinicians and clinician scientists.