- TFOS Ambassadors
Georgia
Nino Karanadze
Nino Karanadze, MD, PhD, Professor, is a Georgian ophthalmologist, educator, and researcher with more than four decades of experience in clinical practice, medical education, and scientific leadership. She currently serves as Head of the Eye Diseases Department at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU), where she has trained and mentored future generations of ophthalmologists since 1987.
Dr. Karanadze earned her medical degree from Tbilisi State Medical University in 1980, followed by postgraduate training at the Tbilisi State Postgraduate Doctor’s Training Institute and the Helmholtz Moscow Research Institute of Eye Diseases. In 1987, she was awarded the degree of Candidate of Medicine, laying the foundation for a career that has successfully combined patient care, research, and education.
At TSMU, Dr. Karanadze advanced from assistant professor to associate professor and, in 2022, was appointed Head of the Department of Eye Diseases. She has also held key academic leadership roles, including Deputy Dean of the Medical Faculty (2010–2015) and Senior Specialist for Educational and Scientific Process Management (2006–2010). Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in curriculum development and the advancement of quality standards in medical education, while maintaining a strong commitment to clinical excellence.
Beyond academia, Dr. Karanadze has been a pioneer in transplantology and regenerative medicine in Georgia. She is the founder and medical director of the Amnion Transplantation Bank of Georgia, founder and general director of the Lions Eye Diabetes Clinic-Georgia, and former medical director of the Tissue and Cell Transplantation Bank. These initiatives have expanded access to innovative therapies and advanced ocular surface treatment options for patients.
Her professional involvement extends across multiple organizations. She is a board member of the Georgian Ophthalmological Society, a member of the Georgian Association of Transplantologist, the Georgian Medical Association, and the Homotoxycology Society. She also serves on the Transplantology Council of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, and is Scientific Secretary of the National Academy of Sciences’ committee on transplantology development. Through these roles, she has contributed to shaping national health policy and advancing scientific progress.
Dr. Karanadze has authored more than 70 scientific publications, led research grants, and served on the editorial boards of
Biological Medicine and
Therapy. She lectures at the Georgian Department of the Homotoxycology International Academy and continues to explore new approaches to ophthalmology and ocular surface disease management.
In addition to her professional achievements, she is an active member of Lions Clubs International and currently serves as Provisional Region Chairperson for the Republic of Georgia. She is also an adviser to the youth “Leo Club,” supporting educational and community health initiatives.
With 45 years of clinical practice and nearly 40 years of teaching experience, Dr. Nino Karanadze has played a defining role in advancing ophthalmology and transplantology in Georgia. Her career reflects a commitment to patient care, academic excellence, and international collaboration—values she brings to her work with TFOS and the global ophthalmology community.
