Baruch D. Kuppermann MD, PhD

Baruch D. Kuppermann, M.D., Ph.D., is the Roger F. Steinert Professor, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute at the University of California, Irvine. He also holds a joint appointment with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine.

After completing his Ph.D. in neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Kuppermann went on to earn an M.D. at the University of Miami and completed fellowships in Retina at both St. Joseph’s, and at the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Kuppermann’s laboratory research focuses on assessing the toxicity of drugs on retinal cells in culture, including various vital stains, steroids, and anti-VEGF compounds. More recently, his lab has modified its focus to study the effect of mitochondrial genetics on retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. He is active in the development of drug delivery systems for the posterior segment through collaborative work with the Department of Biomedical Engineering at UC Irvine, for which he holds several patents. Dr. Kuppermann is also co-director of the Center for Translational Vision Research at UC Irvine, which is focused on developing new treatments for blinding retinal conditions.

Dr. Kuppermann is a well-known teacher and lecturer, having given numerous named lectures and been an invited visiting professor at many academic institutions. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles in the medical literature, and over 50 book chapters. He is also strongly involved in clinical research, having served as Principal Investigator in many trials evaluating new drugs and technologies for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, retinitis pigmentosa, and other diseases of the posterior segment.

Dr. Kuppermann is listed as one of the best doctors in America, as well as one of the "Best Ophthalmologists in Orange County" by Orange Coast Magazine. He is a peer reviewer for the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Lancet, Ophthalmology, Retina, and Survey of Ophthalmology. He serves on the Editorial Board of the journal Retina, as well as the Brazilian Archives of Ophthalmology, Brazilian Journal of Ophthalmology, and Retina Today. Dr. Kuppermann also serves on the Board of Directors of the Armenian EyeCare Project.