Ruth Caldwell Lab
Lab Personnel
Modesto A. Rojas, MD
- Assistant Research Scientist
- (2014 - present)
- Funding:
- NIH Title: Role of ACAT1 in Pathological Retinal Neovascularization
Tahira Lemtalsi, BA
- Research Associate
- Ms. Lemtalsi manages the cell biology laboratory and tissue culture facility.
Zhimin Xu, BS, MS
- Research Associate
- Ms. Xu manages the molecular biology lab and transgenic animal colony.
Syed Adeel Zaidi, PhD
- Assistant Research Scientist
- (2020 – present)
- Funding: AHA Career Development Award (4/2025-3/2028)
- Project: Role of Omithine Decarboxylase in Ischemic Retinopathies
Recent Features
Augusta University researcher secures prestigious grant for research to prevent blindness in premature infants
Syed Adeel H. Zaidi, PhD, an assistant research scientist who studies retinal neurovascular biology in the Vascular Biology Center of the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, has received a prestigious grant from the Knights Templar Eye Foundation for his research on blindness in premature infants.
Medical College of Georgia scientists work to protect the vision of premature babies
In the spiraling cycle that can lead to vision loss in premature newborns, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University scientists have found a new target and drug that together appear to stop the destruction in its tracks.
Six Faculty Members Honored at AURI Awards
William and Ruth Caldwell receive the Lifetime Achievement award. Pictured with Brooks A Keel, Gretchen Caughman, and Michael P Diamond
Member Activities & News
2025
Culver Vision Discovery Institute Savannah River Eye Meeting on March 26, 2025
Left to right: Dr. Steven Brooks (Department Chair of Ophthalmology and Co-Director of Vision Discovery Institute). Harry Henry-Ojo (graduate student). Budkin, Stepan (Graduate Research Assistant). Mai Yamamoto (Postdoctoral Fellow). Dhruvi Paladiya, (third-year medical student). Yutao Liu, PhD, Professor, Cellular Biology & Anatomy.
Dhruvi Paladiya, a 3rd year medical student, and Mai Yamamoto, a post-doc, from Dr. Ruth Caldwell lab, were awarded for presenting the best posters at the "4th annual Culver Vision Discovery Institute Savannah River Eye Meeting" carried out in Summerville Campus Ballroom, March 26, 2025.
Dhruvi Paladiya’s project title “Differential effects of inhibiting ACAT1 on VEGF expression in diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity.”
Mai Yamamoto’s project title “Novel Role of Acyl-CoA: Cholesterol Acyltransferase 1/Sterol O-acyltransferase 1 (ACAT1/SOAT1) in Ischemic Retinopathies”
2023
Dr. Syed Adeel H Zaidi receives grant & Dean's Diary Mention
A $90,000 Career Starter Research Grant to Dr. Syed Adeel H. Zaidi, who is working
to develop a new therapy to limit the neuronal and vascular damage associated with
retinopathy of prematurity. This condition is among the most common in premature or
low birth-weight babies and is a major cause of long-term vision impairment and blindness.
This new grant, which is Dr. Zaidi’s first, will help him test a new therapy for ROP
in a mouse model before seeking approval and funding to move on to clinical trials.
This gift is just the latest in a long history of giving by the Knights Templar, who
dedicate their efforts to improving vision through research, education and supporting
access to care. Congratulations, Dr. Zaidi.
2019
Dr. Fouda & Dr. Shosha receive poster competition postdoc awards in the VA research week.
2019
Dr. Shosha receives award in Excellence in research by a postdoctoral fellow, Augusta University, Graduate Research Day
2017
Dr. Shosha receives her PhD degree with distinction
2017
Dr. Shosha receives James and Jean Culver Vision Discovery Institute Award, Augusta University, Graduate Research Day.