Bärbel (Barb) Rohrer PhD
Co-founder and CSO
Dr. Bärbel (Barb) Rohrer is Professor of Ophthalmology and the SmartState Endowed Chair in Gene and Pharmaceutical Treatment of Retinal Degenerative Diseases at MUSC, a VA Research Scientist, and an academic and innovative leader in diseases of the retina. She holds nine U.S. and forty-eight international patents, with an additional seventeen applications pending. Her IP contributed to the foundation for three start-up companies, including MitoChem Therapeutics Inc, which she co-founded with Craig Beeson. A major pharmaceutical company acquired one; the other two companies are continuing clinical development of her therapies. She has published over 100 manuscripts and 19 book chapters; received over 40 peer-reviewed grants; serves as editor/reviewer for many journals; and mentored 50+ trainees. She is a Foundation Fighting Blindness Scientific Advisory Board member and member of multiple professional societies, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Society for Neuroscience. Dr. Rohrer’s education includes a Neuroscience Diploma from the University of Tübingen, a Neuroscience PhD from the University of Calgary, and postdoctoral training at UCSF. Professor Rohrer received the MUSC Inventor of the Year award in 2013, was elected to the rank of National Academy of Inventors fellow by a 2014 selection committee, obtained the Ernst H. Bárány Prize in Ocular Pharmacology from the International Society for Eye Research in 2018, and was chosen as one of the 10 members of The Ophthalmologist’s Power List 2019 in the Inventor Category. (photo curtesy: Ryan Jones)