Menglu Yang, PhD, MD

About

Biography

I am Menglu Yang, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. I specialize in nerve regeneration, ocular neuropathic pain, corneal nerves, ocular surface disease and diabetes. My research focuses on identifying novel therapeutic targets for corneal nerve degeneration and ocular neuropathic pain, with an emphasis on preserving corneal nerve structure and function through cellular physiology, molecular biology, stem cell technologies and high-throughput transcriptomic analyses.

The overarching goal of my laboratory is to advance the understanding and treatment of corneal nerve degeneration and related ocular surface diseases. By combining multidisciplinary research approaches, we investigate the mechanisms that drive nerve injury and regeneration and seek to develop therapies that improve outcomes for patients affected by corneal nerve damage, diabetic keratopathy and other ocular surface disorders.

My current research, supported by the Department of Defense and the National Eye Institute, focuses on understanding how noninvasive electrical stimulation promotes corneal nerve growth and repair. Our laboratory recently demonstrated that microcurrent electrical stimulation can promote corneal nerve regeneration by activating a novel potassium channel, providing new insight into the biological mechanisms underlying nerve repair. These findings are helping to establish the scientific foundation for innovative therapies designed to restore corneal nerve function and reduce ocular neuropathic pain.

In addition to studying nerve regeneration, I am interested in developing human-relevant in vitro models and translational strategies that accelerate the discovery of new treatments. My long-term goal is to move these discoveries from the laboratory to clinical care through high-throughput drug screening platforms and therapeutic approaches that can benefit patients with corneal injuries, diabetic nerve damage and other conditions affecting the ocular surface.

My research career began in ocular surface biology and expanded into neuroregeneration through studies exploring the therapeutic potential of electrical stimulation. This work established the foundation for my independent research program and continues to drive collaborations across basic science and translational medicine.

Among my professional highlights, I initiated a pilot clinical trial aimed at translating electrical stimulation into a therapy for patients with severe ocular surface damage; I discovered a novel mechanism by which electrical stimulation promotes nerve regeneration and I also received the Fred Sanfilippo-ASIP Visiting Lectureship in recognition of my contributions to investigative pathology research.

Credentials

Research