Multisensory Integration in Visual Impairment
Principal Investigator
Arathy Kartha
Arathy completed her BS and MPhil in Optometry from the Elite School of Optometry, Chennai, India. She worked as a low vision Optometrist at Sankara Nethralaya before leaving for her PhD at the Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia. Following her PhD, she moved to the United States and after a long hiatus of 8 years, came back to research as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
During her postdoc, she worked in the Ultra Low Vision Lab directed by Gislin Dagnelie where she worked on visual performance in individuals with native ultra low vision and prosthetic vision. She has been awarded the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence from the National Eye Institute. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at the SUNY State College of Optometry, New York. Arathy enjoys spending time with her family, photography, music, dance and travel.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Orhan Batuhan Erkat
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dinesh Venugopal
Dinesh is a postdoctoral researcher in the MIVI Laboratory at SUNY College of Optometry. He earned his PhD from the School of Optometry and Vision Science at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), where he developed the Assessment of Low Luminance Vision-Related Activities—a comprehensive performance-based measure designed to quantify the challenges faced by individuals with vision impairment under low luminance conditions. The tool was validated as a reliable instrument for assessing rehabilitation outcomes, evaluating eye therapy effectiveness, and informing injury prevention programs. Prior to his PhD, he served as a Lecturer in Optometry at Goa Medical College and Hospital, India, where he mentored undergraduate students and conducted research on optometry education and ocular disease awareness. He holds an M.Phil in Optometry from the Elite School of Optometry (BITS Pilani, India) and a B.Sc in Optometry from Shri Prakash Institute of Optometry (Alagappa University, India). At the MIVI Lab, he is involved in developing multisensory rehabilitation strategies for individuals with Ultra Low Vision under the mentorship of Dr. Kartha. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing cricket, exploring nature, and discovering new cuisines.
Ph.D. Student
Navaneetha Ampolu
Navaneetha is a PhD student in the MIVI Laboratory at the SUNY College of Optometry. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Optometry and Vision Sciences at the Bausch and Lomb School of Optometry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, India, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Optometry and Vision Sciences at the L V Prasad Eye Institute. Her early research explored pseudomyopia and spasm of the near reflex, as well as the relationship between visual acuity and blur thresholds.
Before beginning her PhD, Navaneetha worked as an optometrist at the Child Sight Institute and later joined the Special Needs Vision Clinic at L V Prasad Eye Institute. Her clinical experiences with children in these settings shaped her interest in cerebral visual impairment and functional vision in neurodevelopmental conditions. At SUNY, her research focuses on understanding functional vision and higher-order visual processing in individuals with cerebral visual impairment. She is particularly interested in developing clinically meaningful tools that capture how visual difficulties affect everyday performance and inform more effective rehabilitation strategies.
Navaneetha is passionate about bridging clinical practice, research, and education to better understand and support individuals with complex visual needs. Outside the lab, she enjoys adventures, spending time in nature, and exploring New York City.
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Ph.D. Student
Loy Hashimoto
Loy is an incoming Vision Science Ph.D. student at SUNY College of Optometry. She earned her Bachelor degrees in Biology (with a concentration in Quantitative Biology) and Applied Mathematics at Stony Brook University. Loy’s undergraduate research focused on analyzing the mechanism by which myo-inositol, a small molecule naturally abundant in the human eye lens, reduces light-scattering aggregation of lens crystallins to find a potential treatment for cataracts. She looks forward to gaining more experience with clinical research and contributing to accessible rehabilitation and treatments for global vision disorders. In her free time, Loy enjoys reading and going on runs.
Research Assistant
Abu Monaf
Abu is a research assistant in the MIVI Laboratory at SUNY College of Optometry and an aspiring physician currently applying to medical school. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Hunter College. His path to medicine has been shaped by clinical work across New York City, as a medical assistant and scribe in urgent care at CityMD, as a scribe at Starling Diagnostics, and in a range of other healthcare settings. Those experiences drew him toward a career rooted in the community that raised him, with the long-term goal of building accessible clinical care in the Bronx. At the MIVI Lab, Abu assists with participant scheduling and study visits, data collection during testing sessions with individuals with ultra low vision, data entry, and questionnaire administration. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing basketball and soccer with friends and trying new restaurants around the city.
Research Technician
Navya Sreeram
Originally from Hyderabad, India, Navya has earned her B.Tech in Biotechnology from the Vellore Institute of Technology in 2020 which helped her build a strong foundation in biological sciences. She joined MIVI as a research technician after graduating with a Master's of Science in Public Health in May of 2023, from Johns Hopkins University. With previous research experiences, Navya has gained practical knowledge of healthcare systems and the intricate intersection of research and its impact on patient well-being. She is now excited to work on visual rehabilitation of people with ultra-low vision. In her free time, Navya enjoys crocheting, trying out new recipes and exploring New York City.
Research Coordinator
Dana Skinner
Dana is currently the Research Manager at the Clinical Vision Research Center-SUNY College of Optometry. She received her degree in Psychology from Baruch College with a concentration in neuroscience and cognitive psychology. During her time at the CVRC, she has managed multiple FDA, industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated studies. She has served as lead coordinator, sub-investigator, and technician on a range of drug, device, and database studies.
High School Volunteer
Aradhya Vijay
Aradhya Vijay is a senior at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South with a strong interest in biomedical science, medicine, and engineering. He is passionate about exploring the intersection of research and clinical practice, with a long-term goal of contributing to advancements in human health. Aradhya enjoys working in lab environments and has engaged in science research as well as publishing neuroscience books in the past. He is now excited to work on visual rehabilitation of people with ultra-low vision. In his free time, he volunteers with his local rescue squad as a certified EMT and vice president of the cadet corps, competes as a varsity cross country runner and captain, plays competitive cricket, and enjoys reading books.
High School Volunteer
Nikita Menon
Nikita is a high school student from West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South who is interested in the field of STEM and healthcare. She is passionate about helping her community and working towards providing youth education. She has volunteered at the hospital as well as at a tutoring center, solidifying her commitment to serve others. Her interests lie in research and medicine, which she hopes to further explore with the MIVI team. Aside from her passion for science, she enjoys dance and running. She is thrilled to be a part of this research team and is eager to learn about this field.
Past Members
Yi Xu