Associate Director

Nisha R. Acharya, MD, MS
Elizabeth C. Proctor Distinguished Professor · Associate Director, Francis I. Proctor Foundation · Director, Uveitis & Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service and Uveitis Fellowship

Clinical Trials and Epidemiology of Ocular Inflammatory Disease

About

Dr. Acharya directs the Uveitis and Ocular Inflammatory Disease Service and the Uveitis Fellowship at the F.I. Proctor Foundation. Her clinical expertise is the diagnosis and management of patients with infectious and inflammatory eye diseases, including treatment with new immunomodulatory drugs and biologic therapies. Her research focuses on the design and implementation of clinical trials to determine the optimal treatment for these conditions, alongside epidemiological studies on ocular inflammatory disease — including immunosuppressive therapies, juvenile idiopathic arthritis-associated uveitis, sarcoidosis, smoking and uveitis, and the impact of vaccines.

Education & Training

BS & MS, Biological Sciences / Health Services Research — Stanford University
MD — University of California, San Francisco
Internship, Internal Medicine — Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Residency, Ophthalmology — Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School
Fellowship, Cornea & Uveitis — F.I. Proctor Foundation, UCSF
Fellowship, Clinical Research — Proctor Foundation / Genentech, UCSF

Research Projects

UPCOMING

Adalimumab Dose Adjustment for Pediatric Uveitis Treatment Trial (ADAPT)

Not yet recruiting · Phase 4 · 160 participants · Sep 2026 – Nov 2030

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether children and young adults with well-controlled juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis or chronic anterior uveitis can safely take adalimumab (or biosimilar) injections less often while maintaining control of their disease.

Collaborators: National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Davis, University of California, Los Angeles, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, University of Miami, University of Utah, University of Texas at Austin, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals, Leicester, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

NCT07699107

COMPLETED

Mindfulness Approach for Reducing Anxiety and Gloom in Ocular Inflammatory Diseases (MARiGOLD)

Completed · 100 participants · Aug 2024 – Aug 2025

The proposed study is a block-randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a digital meditation and mindfulness practice on mental health in patients with non-infectious uveitis.

Collaborators: Calm.com, Inc.

NCT06585670

Adalimumab in JIA-associated Uveitis Stopping Trial (ADJUST)

Completed · Phase 4 · 87 participants · Mar 2020 – Apr 2025

The proposed study is a stratified, block-randomized, double-masked, controlled trial to determine the feasibility of discontinuing adalimumab treatment in patients with quiescent uveitis associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or chronic anterior uveitis (CAU).

Collaborators: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, National Eye Institute (NEI), Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Children's Hospital, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of California, Davis, University of Texas at Austin, University of Miami, University Hospitals, Leicester, University of Utah, Colorado Retina Associates, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

NCT03816397

Methotrexate and Mycophenolate Mofetil for UVEITIS (FAST)

Completed · Phase 3 · 216 participants · Aug 2013 – Aug 2018

In the First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment (FAST) Uveitis Trial, the investigators propose to establish which immunosuppressive therapy, methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil, is more effective as a first-line, corticosteroid-sparing agent for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis in a block-randomized, observer-masked, comparative effectiveness trial.

Collaborators: Aravind Eye Hospitals, India, Oregon Health and Science University, Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Northwestern University, National Eye Institute (NEI), King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital

NCT01829295

First-line Antimetabolites as Steroid-sparing Treatment Uveitis Pilot Trial (FAST)

Completed · Phase 3 · 80 participants · Oct 2010 – Jun 2012

The proposed study is a masked trial, with stratified block randomization by site, designed to determine which treatment, methotrexate or mycophenolate mofetil, is more effective as first-line steroid-sparing treatment for patients with non-infectious uveitis requiring corticosteroid-sparing therapy.

Collaborators: Aravind Eye Hospitals, India

NCT01232920

The Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial II: A Randomized Trial Comparing Oral Voriconazole vs Placebo (MUTTII)

Completed · Phase 3 · 240 participants · May 2010 – Mar 2016

The purpose of this study is to determine if the addition of oral voriconazole to topical treatment regimens results in lower rates of perforation in severe fungal corneal ulcers.

Collaborators: Aravind Eye Hospitals, India, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lumbini Eye Institute and Research Centre, Bharatpur Eye Hospital, National Eye Institute (NEI)

NCT00997035

Mycotic Ulcer Treatment Trial I (MUTT I)

Completed · Phase 3 · 323 participants · Apr 2010 – Jul 2012

The purpose of this study is to determine if natamycin or voriconazole results in better visual outcomes in fungal corneal ulcers, especially visual acuity.

Collaborators: Aravind Eye Hospitals, India, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, National Eye Institute (NEI)

NCT00996736

Therapeutic Exploratory Study of Comparing Natamycin and Voriconazole to Treat Fungal Corneal Ulcer (MUTT TE)

Completed · Phase 1/2 · 120 participants · Nov 2007 – Aug 2008

We evaluated whether voriconazole is a superior treatment to natamycin for filamentous fungal keratitis in a randomized, masked, controlled trial.

Collaborators: That Man May See, Inc., Aravind Eye Hospitals, India, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

NCT00557362

Lucentis for Inflammatory Macular Edema Trial (LIME)

Completed · Phase 1/2 · 7 participants · Jul 2007 – Dec 2009

Uveitis is an inflammation (swelling and irritation) inside the eye, affecting the uvea. The uvea is the layer of the eye between the sclera and the retina and provides most of the blood supply to the retina.

Collaborators: Genentech, Inc.

NCT00498355

Steroids for Corneal Ulcers Trial (SCUT)

Completed · Phase 4 · 500 participants · Sep 2006 – Dec 2012

The purpose of this study is to determine whether adding topical steroids improves the outcomes of bacterial corneal ulcers, especially visual acuity.

Collaborators: Aravind Eye Hospitals, India, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, National Eye Institute (NEI)

NCT00324168

CLOSED EARLY

Macular Edema Nepafenac vs. Difluprednate Uveitis Trial (MEND)

Terminated · Phase 4 · 9 participants · Sep 2018 – Mar 2020

Macular edema is a condition in which there is swelling in the macula, the part of the retina that gives you your best vision. This swelling can cause your vision to decline.

Collaborators: Aravind Eye Hospitals, India

NCT01939691

Registered studies from ClinicalTrials.gov. Last reviewed August 2026.