Dr. Swaroop obtained his Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India. After completing his postdoctoral training at Yale University in genetics, he joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an assistant professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology and in Human Genetics, became full professor in 2000, and held the Harold F. Falls Collegiate Professorship from 2003 to 2007. In September 2007, Dr. Swaroop established N-NRL at the National Eye Institute to advance research in all aspects of retinal biology and disease.

The studies in Swaroop laboratory have focused primarily on genetic and epigenetic regulation of photoreceptor development and aging, genetic defects and mechanisms of photoreceptor dysfunction in retinal neurodegeneration, genetics of age-related macular degeneration, and design of new therapeutic paradigms using cell, gene or small molecule based approaches. He has trained over 500 students, interns and fellows. A number of his trainees hold faculty or scientist positions at institutions worldwide and in biomedical industry.

Dr. Swaroop has received many honors, including the Board of Director’s award from The Foundation Fighting Blindness for outstanding research in 2006 and the Harrington Senior Scientific Award from Research to Prevent Blindness. In 2007, he got the Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Award of the University of Michigan Medical School for his research accomplishments. He was a recipient of the Bireswar Chakrabarti Memorial Oration Award in 2008 by the Indian Eye Research Group, inducted in the inaugural class of ARVO Fellows in 2009, and received the NEI Director’s award in 2010. Dr. Swaroop received the prestigious Alcon Award for Outstanding Vision Research in 2011. In Feb 2012, he was selected by ARVO as a Gold Fellow for his service to the vision community. In 2013, he was honored by NIH Director’s Ruth L. Kirschstein Award "For exemplary performance while demonstrating significant leadership, skill and ability in serving as a mentor." Dr. Swaroop was granted Prof. P.N. Chhuttani Chair as Distinguished Medical Scientist (visiting) at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India, during 2015-2016.

Dr. Swaroop has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles, invited chapters and reviews, and delivered more than 250 invited lectures worldwide. Dr. Swaroop is on the advisory and editorial boards and routinely reviews manuscripts for Cell, PLoS and Nature journals, J Neurosci, PNAS, AJHG, HMG, IOVS, and Mol Vis, among others. He contributes to institutional committees for promotions and tenure and evaluates grants for several national and international funding agencies.

Terms of Appointment: Mar 2018 – Mar 2020