About

Ahmara Gibbons Ross, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and serves as Vice Chair of Opportunity in the Department of Ophthalmology. She holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College, an MD from Jefferson Medical College, and a PhD in Molecular Pharmacology/Structural Biology from Thomas Jefferson University. Her clinical expertise involves managing all forms of optic neuropathies, with a specialized focus on a niche sub-specialty that combines Neuro-Ophthalmology and Glaucoma, making her one of the few specialists practicing both fields. She has established a dedicated clinic for patients with optic nerve and visual pathway disorders. Her research centers on understanding the genetic basis of glaucoma and developing novel treatments for optic neuropathies. Her work includes investigating mechanisms of programmed cell death, developing drugs to control these processes, and creating knock-out mouse models using advanced cloning methods. She is particularly interested in gene-transfer techniques to reverse optic nerve cell death, with a focus on the role of SIRT1 as a potential gene target to enhance retinal ganglion cell survival. Her long-term goal is to develop strategies to replace gene mutations with viral gene transduction to treat glaucoma at the cellular level. Additionally, she has contributed to promoting diversity and inclusion within ophthalmology, focusing on improving recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in the field.

Research topics

• Geomorphology
• Cell biology
• Biology
• Medicine
• Geology
• Orthodontics
• Surgery

Selected publications

• A multi-cohort genome-wide association study in African ancestry individuals reveals risk loci for primary open-angle glaucoma

  Cell · 2024 · 62 citations

  • Biology
  • Genetics
  • Evolutionary biology
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy: a roadmap from the RReSTORe Consortium

  Molecular Neurodegeneration · 2023 · 81 citations

  • Neuroscience
  • Biology
  • Medicine

  Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies results in irreversible vision loss due to the mammalian central nervous system's limited regenerative capacity. RGC repopulation is a promising therapeutic approach to reverse vision loss from optic neuropathies if the newly introduced neurons can reestablish functional retinal and thalamic circuits. In theory, RGCs might be repopulated through the transplantation of stem cell-derived neurons or via the induction of endogenous transdifferentiation. The RGC Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) Consortium was established to address the challenges associated with the therapeutic repair of the visual pathway in optic neuropathy. In 2022, the RReSTORe Consortium initiated ongoing international collaborative discussions to advance the RGC repopulation field and has identified five critical areas of focus: (1) RGC development and differentiation, (2) Transplantation methods and models, (3) RGC survival, maturation, and host interactions, (4) Inner retinal wiring, and (5) Eye-to-brain connectivity. Here, we discuss the most pertinent questions and challenges that exist on the path to clinical translation and suggest experimental directions to propel this work going forward. Using these five subtopic discussion groups (SDGs) as a framework, we suggest multidisciplinary approaches to restore the diseased visual pathway by leveraging groundbreaking insights from developmental neuroscience, stem cell biology, molecular biology, optical imaging, animal models of optic neuropathy, immunology & immunotolerance, neuropathology & neuroprotection, materials science & biomedical engineering, and regenerative neuroscience. While significant hurdles remain, the RReSTORe Consortium's efforts provide a comprehensive roadmap for advancing the RGC repopulation field and hold potential for transformative progress in restoring vision in patients suffering from optic neuropathies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Importance of Health Literacy in Addressing Eye Health and Eye Care Disparities

  Ophthalmology · 2022 · 36 citations

  • Medicine
  • Optometry
  • Environmental health
  PublisherDOI

• Disparities in Vision Health and Eye Care

  Ophthalmology · 2022 · 183 citations

  • Political Science
  • Medicine
  • Gerontology
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluation of a multimedia marketing campaign to engage African American patients in glaucoma screening

  Preventive Medicine Reports · 2020 · 10 citations

  • Sociology
  • Medicine
  • Family medicine

  Our objective was to determine which messaging approaches from a marketing campaign were most effective in recruiting African American individuals to a glaucoma screening and research study. We conducted a multimedia marketing campaign in Philadelphia from 01/31/2018 to 06/30/2018. Messaging approaches included radio advertisements and interviews (conducted in partnership with a local radio station with a large African American listener base), print materials, event tables, and online postings. Participants received free glaucoma screenings and the opportunity to enroll in our glaucoma genetics study. These screenings allowed individuals with glaucoma to receive a full examination and treatment plan with a glaucoma specialist, as well as to contribute to future efforts to identify genetic variants underlying this disease. We compared inquiry, enrollment, and cost yield for each messaging approach. Our campaign resulted in 154 unique inquiries, with 98 patients receiving glaucoma screenings (64%) and 60 patients enrolling in our study (39%). Commercials on WURD radio yielded the highest number of inquiries (62%) and enrollments (62%), but at relatively high cost ($814/enrolled patient). The most inexpensive approach that yielded more than five enrollments was postcards ($429/enrolled patient). Our campaign suggests that high-frequency commercials and postcards distributed at targeted healthcare locations are particularly effective and affordable options for connecting with the African American community. Our findings can help to inform recruitment efforts for other understudied diseases in minority populations.

  PublisherDOI

• SIRT1 Overexpression Prevents RGC Loss and Delays Loss of Function Following Experimental Closed Head Blunt Trauma.

  Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science · 2020

  • Medicine
  • Orthodontics
  • Surgery

Frequent coauthors

• Reas Sulaimankutty

  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

  5 shared

• Kimberly Dine

  University of Pennsylvania

  5 shared

• Kenneth S. Shindler

  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

  5 shared

• Qi N. Cui

  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

  4 shared

• Ying Song

  University of Pennsylvania

  4 shared

• Albert Bargoud

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  4 shared

• Joshua L. Dunaief

  4 shared

• Puya Aravand

  University of Pennsylvania

  4 shared

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