Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Secondary Appointment:

Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Biography:

Rafael Grytz, PhD grew up in Ratingen, Germany. He received his Master of Science and PhD in Civil Engineering, both with distinction, from the Ruhr University Bochum in Germany. In 2009, Dr. Grytz was awarded the “Deustche Studienpreis”, 2nd prize, by the President of the German Parliament in recognition of his substantial and innovative PhD research work with outstanding relevance to society. After obtaining his PhD, Dr. Grytz completed a one-year Postdoctoral Fellowship followed by an appointment as Research Associate at the Devers Eye Institute in Portland, Oregon. In 2012, Dr. Grytz joined the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he is now an Assistant Professor. He holds a secondary appointment in Biomedical Engineering.

Research:

Dr. Grytz seeks to develop a virtual laboratory of the living eye for investigating biomechanical mechanisms in ocular disease development and progression. His laboratory is currently focused on establishing predictive computational simulation tools for growth and remodeling mechanisms in glaucoma, keratoconus and myopia. Ongoing projects include the investigation of visually guided mechanisms controlling the growth of the eye; loss and weakening of stromal collagen in keratoconus; homeostatic control mechanism that stimulate collagen fibril synthesis, degeneration and remodeling; and IOP-dependent remodeling of the optic nerve head connective tissues in glaucoma. Dr Grytz’s work is focused on the development of computational multi-scale methods at various length scales, from the molecule to the organ. His laboratory’s goal is to provide predictive computational simulation tools that support the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics in ocular diseases and conditions.

Graduate Education

Ruhr University Bochum

Germany

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Devers Eye Institute

Portland, Oregon