Pratap Challa, MD

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology

Campus mail: Box 3802 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710

Phone: (919) 681-2793

As a physician-scientist investigator, Dr. Challa has a special research interest in the genetic basis of inherited eye diseases. He has active projects investigating the genetics of Pseudoexfoliation associated glaucoma and the cellular basis for glaucoma development. He also studies ocular drug delivery and is involved in developing long-term delivery devices for glaucoma medications. He also investigates novel compounds that may eventually be used for treating glaucoma. In addition to basic science research, he also has clinical research interests including evaluating the effectiveness of new glaucoma therapies.

Education and Training

University of Florida, M.D. 1993

Selected Grants and Awards

Publications

Factors impacting outcomes and the time to recovery from malignant glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with the successful management of malignant glaucoma (MG).

Prophylactic anterior vitrectomy during cataract surgery in eyes at increased risk for aqueous misdirection

Purpose: Patients with chronic narrow angle glaucoma (CNAG) are at increased risk of developing aqueous misdirection (AM) following intraocular surgery.

Composition of Exfoliation Material.

Exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) is the most common identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma worldwide, and results from the accumulation of extracellular fibrillary material (XFM) within the trabecular meshwork and the Schlemm canal leading to increas

Dysregulation of the Autotaxin/LPA Signaling Axis in the Aqueous Humor of Human Glaucoma Patients.

Differentially expressed microRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with exfoliation glaucoma or primary open-angle glaucoma.

Both exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) have been linked to decreased conventional outflow of aqueous humor (AH).

Author Response, Regarding "Simultaneous Implantation of an Ahmed and Baerveldt Glaucoma Drainage Device for Uncontrolled Intraocular Pressure in Advanced Glaucoma".

Genetic association study of exfoliation syndrome identifies a protective rare variant at LOXL1 and five new susceptibility loci.

Exfoliation syndrome (XFS) is the most common known risk factor for secondary glaucoma and a major cause of blindness worldwide. Variants in two genes, LOXL1 and CACNA1A, have previously been associated with XFS.