The UAB Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences welcomed Oliver Gramlich, Ph.D., as an associate professor in April 2025, further strengthening the department’s growing research enterprise. Gramlich is an internationally recognized scientist whose work explores the pathobiology of vision loss in optic neuropathies and autoimmune demyelinating disorders. His research centers on the mechanisms that drive inflammation-mediated retinal ganglion cell death and optic nerve degeneration, with the goal of identifying therapeutic strategies to preserve vision.

Gramlich’s laboratory integrates human-derived tissue, advanced 3D organoid models, and innovative preclinical systems of glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and antibody-mediated demyelination. His team employs comprehensive imaging, electrophysiology, molecular and immunological methods, and rigorous statistical modeling to understand disease pathways across the visual system. This multifaceted approach has positioned his work at the forefront of translational discovery in optic neuropathies.

Originally trained at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany, Gramlich completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral fellowship in Experimental Ophthalmology before advancing to research faculty roles at the University of Iowa and serving as a principal investigator at the Veterans Affairs Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss. His extensive contributions include more than two dozen peer-reviewed publications, significant federal grant support, and leadership across national and international research committees.

“Recruiting exceptional scientists like Gramlich is essential to advancing the department’s mission,” said Brian Samuels, M.D., Ph.D., The EyeSight Foundation of Alabama Endowed Chair. “His expertise in neuroimmunology and optic nerve disease brings new depth to our program and expands the collaborative opportunities that drive innovation at UAB.”