PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Simon Kaja, PhD, Associate Professor
Postdoc: Neuroscience (University of British Columbia)
PhD: 2007, Medicine - Neuroscience (Leiden University)
BSc: 2002, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry (Durham University)
Dr. Kaja is an expert in ocular pharmacology with more than fifteen years' experience in the academic, biotech and pharmaceutical industry setting. Dr. Kaja holds an academic appointment at Loyola University Chicago, where he serves as the Dr. John P. and Therese E. Mulcahy Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Ocular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory.
Research in the laboratory is currently funded by the National Institute of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Fight for Sight, and industry funding.
Click here for a full list of publication.
Lee Troughton, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology
PhD: 2019 (University of Liverpool)
Dr. Lee Troughton is Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and joined the Kaja Lab in 2024. Lee completed his graduate training at the University of Liverpool, before postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Rochester and Loyola University Chicago.
Lee's research interest in on molecular mechanisms underlying ocular disorders.
Graduate Students
Emily Krupa, BS, PVCert
PhD Candiate
BS: 2021 (University of Illinois Chicago)
PVCert: 2024 (Loyola University Chicago)
Emily is a first year graduate student in the Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences at Loyola University Chicago. Emily joined the Kaja Lab in 2024 after several years as Research Assistant in the Hemostasis and Thrombosis Laboratory at Loyola and successfully completing the Graduate Certificate Program in Pharmacovigilance in 2024.
Emily is investigating novel therapeutic strategies for ocular surface disease.
Graduate Students
Djamilla Simoens, BS, MS
Researcher
BS: 2012 (Ghent University, Belgium)
MS: 2014 (Ghent University, Belgium)
Djamilla is Researcher in the Ocular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory. She is contributing to numerous projects on ocular surface disease therapeutics. Her research interests include pharmacovigilance and drug safety and she has been leading the PV efforts in our group.
Graduate Students
Hussein ABU QTAISH, BS
MS Student
BS: 2020 (Philadelphia University in Jordan)
Huseein is a second year graduate student in the MS Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Program . Hussein is working on a joint project between the Kaja and Jones Labs investigating the role of thioredoxin signaling in ocular disease.
Graduate Students
Alissa Araneta, BS
MS Student
BS: 2023 Biochemistry (University of St. Francis)
Alissa is a second year graduate student in the MS Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Program . Alissa is working on a joint project between the Kaja and Kroken Labs investigating corneal material infections and novel antibiotic strategies.
Lab Manager
Melanie Bollnow, BS
Research Assistant III
BS: Biology (Northern Illinois University)
Mel joined the Kaja Lab in the Fall of 2023. She supports all aspects of the research operation.
Medical Students
Baraa Hussein, BS
MS2 Medical Student
BS: Loyola University Chicago (Major: Biology)
Baraa joined the lab in 2024. He is interested in topical ophthalmic delivery and evaluating drug candidates that can enhance corneal permeability.
Medical Students
Ethan Teich, BS
MS2 Medical Student
Ethan joined the lab in 2024. He is interested in corneal wound healing and the role of neutrophils in ocular surface disease.
Medical Students
Jacob Espeland, BS
MS2 Medical Student at Rosalind Franklin University
BS: University of California - Santa Barbara (Major: Microbiology)
Jacob joined the lab in 2025. He is interested in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ocular surface disease and identifying novel drug candidates that prevent corneal epithelial barrier breakdown.
Medical Students
Varun Shravah, BS
MS3 Medical Student
Varun joined the lab in 2024. He is the recipient of a STAR Research Award supporting his project on developing an ex vivo choroidal sprouting assay using human donor specimens and was recently awarded a research grant from the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness.
AFFILIATE LAB MEMBERS
Marianna Bacellar-Galdino, DVM, MS, PhD
Affiliate Research Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology
DVM: 2007 (Tuiuti University of Parana, Brazil)
MS: 2009 (Federal University of Parana, Brazil)
PhD: 2017 (Michigan State University)
Marianna serves as Affiliate Faculty member in the Department of Ophthalmology and member of the Graduate Faculty at Loyola University Chicago. Her research interest lies in development and refinement of large animal models for ophthalmic indications.
Graduate Student Alumni
Anita Ghosh, MS, PhD
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Harsh Hariani, MBBS, MS
Anita graduated from the Lab with her Master in Neuroscience in 2019, and her PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with Distinction in 2022. Anita is now working as a Project Lead specializing in drug discovery and development.
Harsh Hariani, MBBS, MS
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Harsh Hariani, MBBS, MS
Harsh graduated from the Lab with his Masters Degree in 2020. After 2 successful years as Research Associate at Herophilus in San Francisco, Harsh recently joined the PhD program at Arizona State University.
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Sana graduated from the Lab with her PhD Degree in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics with Distinction in 2024. Sana joined AbbVie, Inc. as Senior Scientist, Toxicology.
Cassidy Kessinger, BS, MS
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Sana Iqbal, BS, PVCert, PhD
Cassidy graduated from the Lab with her MS Neuroscience in 2024. Cassidy is working as a Research Assistant at Endeavor Health in Chicago.
Bhuvanachandra Pasupuleti, PharmD, MS
Bhuvanachandra Pasupuleti, PharmD, MS
Bhuvanachandra Pasupuleti, PharmD, MS
Bhuvanachandra graduated from the Lab with her MS in Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2024. Bhuvanachandra joined Selagine, Inc. Research Scientist.
Candace Betancourt-Szymanowska, MS
Bhuvanachandra Pasupuleti, PharmD, MS
Bhuvanachandra Pasupuleti, PharmD, MS
Candace graduated from the Lab with her MS in Neuroscience in December 2024.
Alumni
METHA CHEA, BS
Vidhya R Rao, PhD
Vidhya R Rao, PhD
Metha spent a research year as Research Assistant II in the lab (2024 - 2025).
Metha has returned to Medical School at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX.
Vidhya R Rao, PhD
Vidhya R Rao, PhD
Vidhya R Rao, PhD
Vidhya worked in the Ocular Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Laboratory from
2021-2025 as Research Assistant Professor.
MEDICAL STUDENT Alumni
ABHISHEK RAMINI, BS, MD
ABHISHEK RAMINI, BS, MD
ABHISHEK RAMINI, BS, MD