Biography

Danielle M. Robertson, O.D., Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is also the Director of the Advanced Dry Eye Specialty Clinic at UT Southwestern.

Dr. Robertson completed her clinical training at the University of Houston College of Optometry, where she later earned a Ph.D. in physiological optics and vision science. She joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2007.

She is a Diplomate in the Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies section of the American Academy of Optometry; a Fellow in the British Contact Lens Association; and a council member for the International Society of Contact Lens Research. She serves on the editorial board of The Ocular Surface and several other journals.

Dr. Robertson is an IF/THEN Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a program designed to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. Additionally, she is a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society for Microbiology, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, and the International Society for IGF Research.

Dr. Robertson’s laboratory is funded by two major research grants from the National Eye Institute. She also directs a training grant for medical student research that is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Her laboratory is focused on investigating the impact of systemic and infectious diseases on the cornea and ocular surface. This includes clinical, translational, and basic studies aimed at elucidating the cellular and molecular signaling pathways that are altered during disease. She was a two-time Ezell Fellow and the only optometrist in the nation ever to receive a prestigious Scientific Career Development Award from Research to Prevent Blindness.

Education & Training
  • Medical School - University of Houston College of Optometry (1998-2002)
  • Other Post Graduate Training - University of Houston College of Optometry (2002-2007)
  • Other Post Graduate Training - University of Houston College of Optometry (1998-2002)
  • Graduate School - University of Houston College of Optometry (1998-2002)
  • Graduate School - University of Houston College of Optometry (2002-2007), Vision Science
  • Undergraduate School - Washington State University (1992-1996)
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • American Academy of Optometry
  • Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology
  • American Society for Cell Biology
  • British Contact Lens Association
  • International Society for Eye Research
  • International Society for Contact Lens Research
  • Eye and Contact Lens Association
  • American Society for Microbiology
  • International Society for Extracellular Vesicles
  • American Society for Exosomes and Microvesicles
  • American Association for the Advancement of Sciences
  • The International Society for IGF Research
Honors & Awards
  • Borish Scholar Award 2019, Indiana University School of Optometry
  • IF/THEN Ambassador 2019, American Association for the Advancement of Sciences
  • Diplomate 2010, American Academy of Optometry, Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses and Refractive Technologies
  • Fellow 2009, British Contact Lens Association
  • Fellow 2008, American Academy of Optometry
  • Vistakon Research Grant 2008, American Optometric Foundation
  • Career Development Award 2008, Research to Prevent Blindness (first and only award ever given by RPB to an optometrist)
  • Scientific Research Award 2007, CLAO Education and Research Foundation
  • Research Travel Fellowship 2007, International Society for Contact Lens
  • Scientific Research Award, Development of a Universal Donor Corneal Epithelium 2005, Eye Bank Association of America
  • Research Travel Fellowship 2005, International Society for Contact Lens
  • Loan Repayment Program 2005-2011, National Eye Institute
  • W. C. Ezell Fellowship 2005-2006, American Optometric Foundation
  • Live Cell Imaging Fellowship 2005, European Molecular Biology Organization
  • Clinical Scientist Career Developmental Award 2004, National Eye Institute
  • Clinical Excellence Award 2002, Cornea and Contact Lens
  • Summer Research Fellowship 2001, National Eye Institute
  • Clinical Excellence Award 2001, RGP Lens Institute
  • Wesley Jessen Award for Excellence in Anterior Segment Pathology 2000
Books & Publications
Research
  • Contact Lenses
  • Corneal Epithelial Cell Biology
  • Corneal Imaging
  • Diabetic Keratopathy and Dry Eye
  • Sjögren's Syndrome
  • Corneal Infectious Diseases
  • Extracellular Vesicles

Clinical Focus

  • Dry Eyes
  • Sjogren's Syndrome
  • Diabetes-Induced Dry Eye
  • Meibomian Gland Disease
  • Corneal Infectious Diseases
  • Corneal Imaging

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