milica_margeta@meei.harvard.edu
For investigator inquiries only
About My Research
Center/Research Area Affiliations
Research Summary
Dr. Margeta specializes in glaucoma, which is a chronic blinding disease characterized by gradual loss of neurons that connect the eye to the brain. Elevated intraocular pressure remains the only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma; currently there no glaucoma treatments that directly confer neuronal protection or reverse existing visual field loss. Dr. Margeta’s research focuses on the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, with the goal of developing novel neuroprotective treatments for this progressive blinding disease.
Dr. Margeta was selected for the NIH/NEI-funded K12 Harvard Vision Clinical Scientist Training Program in 2016 and has received numerous other awards since then, including NIH K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award, Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award, and Alcon Research Institute Young Investigator Award. She is a member of the Glaucoma Research Foundation Catalyst for a Cure Initiative to Prevent and Cure Neurodegeneration.
Education
2003: BS, Stanford University, Biological Sciences
2009: PhD, Stanford University, Neuroscience
2011: MD, Stanford University
Postgraduate Training
2015: Residency, Ophthalmology, Duke University
2016: Fellowship, Glaucoma, Duke University
Academic Appointments
2019-present: Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
2016-2019: Instructor in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Professional Memberships
2015-present: American Glaucoma Society
2015-present: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
2015-present: American Academy of Ophthalmology
2017-present: New England Ophthalmological Society
Honors
2013: Robert Machemer Resident Research Award, Duke University Eye Center
2015: Ocular Innovation Award, Duke University Eye Center
2016: Best Research Presentation by a Clinical Fellow, Duke University Eye Center
2020: Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award
2022: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Ophthalmology Scholar
- APOE4 impairs the microglial response in Alzheimer's disease by inducing TGFß-mediated checkpoints. Nat Immunol. 2023 Nov; 24(11):1839-1853.
- Steroid Response Following Dropless Cataract Surgery Using Subconjunctival Triamcinolone. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023; 17:2803-2814.
- Neurofilament Light Chain in Aqueous Humor as a Marker of Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma. Clin Ophthalmol. 2023; 17:2209-2217.
- Identification of a protective microglial state mediated by miR-155 and interferon-? signaling in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Nat Neurosci. 2023 07; 26(7):1196-1207.
- Myeloid masquerade: Microglial transcriptional signatures in retinal development and disease. Front Cell Neurosci. 2023; 17:1106547.
- Neurodegeneration Markers Galectin-3 and Apolipoprotein E Are Elevated in the Aqueous Humor of Eyes With Glaucoma. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022 11 01; 11(11):1.
- Regulating microglial miR-155 transcriptional phenotype alleviates Alzheimer's-induced retinal vasculopathy by limiting Clec7a/Galectin-3+ neurodegenerative microglia. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2022 09 08; 10(1):136.
- Apolipoprotein E4 impairs the response of neurodegenerative retinal microglia and prevents neuronal loss in glaucoma. Immunity. 2022 09 13; 55(9):1627-1644.e7.
- The Prevalence of Autoimmune Diseases in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Undergoing Ophthalmic Surgeries. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2022 Mar-Apr; 5(2):128-136.
- Disc Hemorrhages Are Associated With Localized Three-Dimensional Neuroretinal Rim Thickness Progression in Open-Angle Glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol. 2022 02; 234:188-198.
- Earlier Detection of Glaucoma Progression Using High-Density 3-Dimensional Spectral-Domain OCT Optic Nerve Volume Scans. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2021 Nov-Dec; 4(6):604-616.
- Glaucoma Drainage Devices Calculator App: A Modern Clinical Decision Tool. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2021 Sep-Oct; 4(5):550-551.
- Association of APOE With Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Suggests a Protective Effect for APOE e4. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2020 07 01; 61(8):3.
- Elevated Intraocular Pressure in a Young Man With a History of Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019 03 01; 137(3):318-319.
- Imaging Retinal Ganglion Cell Death and Dysfunction in Glaucoma. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2019; 59(4):41-54.
- CD163+ macrophages infiltrate axon bundles of postmortem optic nerves with glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2018 Dec; 256(12):2449-2456.
- Staying away from the optic nerve: a formula for modifying glaucoma drainage device surgery in pediatric and other small eyes. J AAPOS. 2017 02; 21(1):39-43.e1.
- Low cerebrospinal fluid protein in prepubertal children with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J AAPOS. 2015 Apr; 19(2):135-9.
- Molecular mechanisms of synaptic specificity. Mol Cell Neurosci. 2010 Mar; 43(3):261-7.
- Clathrin adaptor AP-1 complex excludes multiple postsynaptic receptors from axons in C. elegans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Feb 03; 106(5):1632-7.
- Building a synapse: lessons on synaptic specificity and presynaptic assembly from the nematode C. elegans. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2008 Feb; 18(1):69-76.
- Transcription factor Lim1 specifies horizontal cell laminar position in the retina. J Neurosci. 2008 Apr 09; 28(15):3835-6.
- Glia promote local synaptogenesis through UNC-6 (netrin) signaling in C. elegans. Science. 2007 Oct 05; 318(5847):103-6.
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