Associate Professor, Ophthalmology
School of Medicine

Graduated with Distinction in Research, UC Irvine
Graduated with Distinction in Community Service, UC Irvine

2010: Post-Doctoral, University of California, San Francisco, SF, CA
2012: M.D. (Medical Scientist Training Program), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
2013: Internship in Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA
2013: Residency, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of California, Davis, Department Chair: Dr. Mark Mannis, Sacramento, CA
2016: Fellowship, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Fellowship, Department of Ophthalmology, Roski Eye Center, University of Southern California, Fellowship Directors: Drs. Vivek Patel, Mark Borchert, Jonathan Kim, Dara West, Los Angeles, CA

Kimberly Gokoffski, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at UC Irvine.

A compassionate surgeon-scientist who has dedicated her life to developing a cure to save her patients’ vision, Dr. Gokoffski combines her clinical experience with skills in scientific investigation and analysis to accelerate solutions to all eye diseases. She leads a clinical and surgical practice that diagnoses and treats a wide range of conditions related to the brain-eye connection.

Her innovative research is driven by the clinical need for optic nerve regeneration. To meet this need, she focuses on promoting the survival of damaged optic nerve cells and directing the long-distance growth of axons, the parts of the nerve cells that carry electrical impulses away from the eye to the brain.

Managing a transdisciplinary team of neurobiologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, cell biologists, engineers, and electrophysiologists, Dr. Gokoffski leverages their expert insights to refine electric field applications into a therapy that will direct nerve regeneration. Why electric fields? Electric fields are naturally generated in our body and are used by our body to direct activities including wound healing and tissue patterning during development. Dr. Gokoffski is exploiting natural cellular responses to electric fields and using them to direct regeneration of damaged retinal neurons.

Active Funding
Title: Synaptic plasticity in amblyopia with electric field application.
Source: Research to Prevent Blindness Foundation Grant.
Dates: 07/2025-12/2026.
Role: Principal Investigator

Title: Restoration of optic nerve function driven by in vivo multimodal electrical stimulation.
Source: NIH/NEI.
Dates: 09/2023-02/2028.
Role: Principal Investigator

Title: Morphologic and Functional Assessment of Field-Potentiated Optic Nerve Regeneration.
Source: NIH/NEI.
Dates: 03/2024-02/2028.
Role: Principal Investigator

Title: Total Human Eye-allotransplantation Innovation Advancement (THEIA).
Source: ARPA-H (Subaward via University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus).
Dates: 09/2024-09/2026.
Role: Sub-I (PI: Washington, K.).

Title: GCR: Reprogramming Biological Neural Networks with Field-Based Engineered Systems.
Source: NSF.
Dates: 10/2021-09/2026.
Role: Co-I with Lazzi, G., Humayun, M., Sideris, C., Bienkowski, M.


Completed Funding
Title: Wearable, Early Intervention Electric Stimulation For Optic Nerve Regeneration
Source: Department of Defense
Dates: 08/2022-07/2025
Role: Primary Investigator

Title: Bioengineered Neuro-Modulation for Neuroprotection and Neuro-regeneration
Source: Ming Hseih Foundation
Dates: 09/2021-08/2023
Role: Primary Investigator

Title: Electric Fields Collaborate with Rac1 to Direct Optic Nerve Regeneration
Source: Baxter Foundation
Dates: 07/2021-06/2023
Role: Primary Investigator

Title: Electric Fields Collaborate with Cdc42 to Direct Optic Nerve Regeneration
Source: BrightFocus Foundation
Dates: 09/2020-08/2023
Role: Primary Investigator

Title: Physiologic Electrical Fields Direct Optic Nerve Regeneration
Source: KL-2 Scholar SC-CTSI
Dates: 06/2018-06/2020
Role: Primary Investigator

Title: Electrical Fields Direct Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth by Modulating GTPase Signaling
Source: North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Pilot Grant
Dates:06/2018-06/2020
Role: Primary Investigator

Title: Molecular Signals That Underlie Electrical Field Directed Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth
Source: Zumberg Foundation
Dates: 07/2018-06/2019
Role: Primary Investigator

2001: Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) fellowship, University of Kansas
2002: Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
2005-2007: Neurosciences Training Grant NIH GM-08620, UC Irvine
2006: AOA Honors Society Community Service Award, UC Irvine
2006: MSTP 2nd place oral presentation award, UC Irvine
2007: Center for Complex Biological Systems Student Project Grant $10,000, UC Irvine “A stochastic model of stem cell aging”
2008: NINDS/AUPN/ANA Medical Students Mentoring Workshop Scholarship, NIH
2008: MSTP 2nd place oral presentation award, UC Irvine
2008: School of Biological Sciences Travel Award, UC Irvine
2008: Paul H. Silverman Award for Research in Stem Cells, $100 UC Irvine
2009: International Conference in Systems Biology Travel Award, Goteborg, Sweden
2009: Center for Complex Biological Systems Student Project Grant $10,000, UC Irvine “A stochastic model of the neuronal gene regulatory network in the olfactory epithelium”
2009: Developmental and Systems Biology Training Grant T32 HD060555-01, UC Irvine (awarded, but declined)
2012: Graduated with Distinction in Community Service, UC Irvine
2012: Graduated with Distinction in Research, UC Irvine
2015: 1st place Resident Research Presentation, Alumni Day, UC Davis Dept of Ophthalmology “Electrical fields direct Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth”
2016: Winner best Resident Poster Presentation, NANOS 2016, Tuscon, Arizona “Electrical fields direct Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth”
2016: 1st place Resident Research Presentation, Alumni Day, UC Davis Dept of Ophthalmology “Electrical fields guide Retinal Ganglion Cell Neurite Growth”
2017:Thomas Carlow Young Investigator Award, NANOS 2017, Washington DC
2022: BrightFocus Foundation Gala: Research Grantee Spotlight
2023: Dean’s Early Career Award For Excellence in Scholarship
2024: Mentor for Nicholas Householder’s Research to Prevent Blindness Medical Student Research Fellowship
2024: Resident Teaching Award for Outstanding Surgical Instruction, USC Roski Eye Institute

REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES:

1. Lo W-C, Chou C-S, Gokoffski KK, Wan FYM, Lander AD, Calof AL, Nie Q. (2009) Feedback regulation in Multistage Cell Lineages. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering; 6(1); 59-82.


2. Lander AD*, Gokoffski KK*, Wan FYM, Nie Q, Calof AL. (2009) Cell Lineages and the Logic of Proliferative Control. PLoS Biol 7(1): e1000015. *These authors contributed equally.


3. Chou C-S, Lo W-C, Gokoffski KK, Zhang Y-T, Wan FYM, Lander AD, Calof AL, Nie Q. (2010) Spatial Dynamics of Multi-stage Cell Lineages in Tissue Stratification. Biophysical Journal; 17; 99 (10): 3145-3154.


4. Gokoffski KK, Wu HH, Beites CL, Kim J, Kim E, Matzuk MM, Johnson JE, Lander AD, and Calof AL. (2011) Activin and GDF11 collaborate in feedback control of neuroepithelial stem cell proliferation and fate. Development; 138 (19): 4131-4142.


5. Gokoffski KK, Thinda S. (2015) Ophthalmic artery occlusion after cocaine use. Journal of Emergency Medicine; 49 (1): 61-62


6. Szymanski L, See K-Y, Gokoffski KK, Barger M, Hu J, Blodget E, Wagle N, Patel VR, Gill K, Lerner A, Liu C-S, Rajamohan A, Zada G, Hurth K. (2017) Treatment of Multifocal Central Nervous System AIDS-Related Epstein Barr Virus-Associated Malignant Myopericytoma with Bevacizumab. Radiology of Infectious Diseases; doi: 10.1016/j.jrid.2017.08.007


7. Gokoffski KK, Chatterjee A, Khaderi SK. (2019) Seasonal Incidence of Biopsy-proven Giant Cell Arteritis: A 20-year retrospective study of the University of California Davis Medical System Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2019 Mar-Apr;37 Suppl 117(2):90-97


8. Gokoffski KK, Jia X, Guohua X, Shvarts, D, Zhao M. (2019) Physiologic Electrical Fields Direct Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. 60, 3659-3668, doi:10.1167/iovs.18-25118


9. Chiang M, Guth D, Pardeshi AA, Randhawa J, Shen A, Shan M, Dredge J, Nguyen A, Gokoffski KK, Wong BJ, Song B, Lin S, Varma R, and Xu BY. (2021) Glaucoma Expert-level Detection of Angle Closure in Goniophotographs with Convolutional Neural Networks: The Chinese American Eye Study. American Journal of Ophthalmology. S0002-9394(21)00066-0. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.02.004


10. Gokoffski KK, Patel VR. A Case of Reversible Toxic Optic Neuropathy From Tacrolimus (FK506). (2020) AJO Sep 16; 20:100932


11. Gokoffski KK, Lifton J, Xu BY, Patel VR. (2021) Surgical Outcomes of Transposition Surgery for the Correction of Large Angle Strabismus. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 41(4): e806-e814


12. Bacorn C, Gokoffski KK, Lin LK. (2021) Clinical correlation recommended: accuracy of clinician versus radiologic interpretation of the imaging of orbital lesions. Orbit. DOI: 10.1080/01676830.2020.1752742


13. Situ BA, Koulisisa N, Gokoffski KK, Greer C. (2022) Miller Fisher Syndrome with Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody: Case Series and Review of Literature. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 2022 Feb 25 PMID: 35234686 DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001486


14. Hamza M, Alas B, Huang C, Quon J, Amezcua L, Robers M, Gokoffski KK (2022) Internuclear Ophthalmoplegia Characterizes Multiple Sclerosis Rather Than Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 2022 Jun 1; 42(2):239-245. PMID: 35427281 DOI: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001534


15. Ou-Yanga W-L, Long C, Azama S, Jia C, Gokoffski KK, Wong B, Patel V. (2022) Sphenoethmoidal air cell sinusitis: A rare cause of recurrent optic neuritis. AJO June; 26:101485


16. Shen A, Haghighi A, Liang T, Lee O-T, Gange W, DeBoer C, Akhter M, Saber M, Patel VR, Berry JL, Gokoffski KK. Metastatic neuroendocrine tumors mimicking as primary ocular disease. AJO June; 26:101485 (2022)


17. Paknahad J, Machnoor M, Lazzi G, Gokoffski KK (2022) The Influence of Electrode Properties on Induced Voltage Gradient Along the Rat Optic Nerve IEEE Journal of Electromagnetics, RF and Microwaves in Medicine and Biology Volume: 6, Issue: 3, September 2022


18. Berryman JD, Balasubramaniam SC, Lim MC, Brodie KD, Gokoffski KK, Shen Y. (2022)
    Sub-acute Malignant Glaucoma In Eyes Without Previous Glaucoma Surgery Under review with BMC Glaucoma


19. Peng M, Lee J, Ho W, Kim T, Yao P, Medvidovic S, Alas B, Wu V, Runner MM, Gokoffski KK. AxonQuant: A Semi-Automated Program for Quantifying Axonal Density from Whole-mounted Optic Nerves Journal of Neuro Methods 394 (109895) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109895


20. Pole C., Gokoffski KK, Ameri H. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome and electronegative electroretinogram after nivolumab therapy for metastatic cutaneous melanoma: a case report. The Open Ophthalmology Journal 17, 2023 ISSN 1874-3641


21. Peng MG, Lam P, Iseri E, Paknahad J, Machnoor M, Kim T, Medvidovic S, Simonyan A, Lazzi G, Gokoffski KK. Asymmetric Charge Balanced Waveforms Direct Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth. Scientific Reports 2023 Aug 14;13(1):13233DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40097-6


22. Soucy JR, Aguzzi EA, Cho J, Gilhooley MJ, Keuthan C, Luo Z, Monavarfeshani A, Saleem M, Wang X-W, Wohlschlegel J, The RReSTORe Consortium, Baranov P, Di Polo A, Fortune B, Gokoffski KK, Goldberg JL, Guido G, Kolodkin AL, Mason CA, Ou Y, Reh TA, Ross AG, Samuels BC, Welsbie D, Zack DJ, Johnson TV. The Retinal Ganglion Cell Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, & Optic Nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) Consortium. Ophthalmology Science 2023 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xops.2023.100390


23. Soucy JR, Aguzzi EA, Cho J, Gilhooley MJ, Keuthan C, Luo Z, Monavarfeshani A, Saleem MA, Wang X-W, Wohlschlegel J, The RReSTORe Consortium, Baranov P, Di Polo A, Fortune B, Gokoffski KK, Goldberg JK, Guido W, Kolodkin AL, Mason CA, Ou Y, Reh TA, Ross AG, Samuels BC, Welsbie D, Zack DJ, Johnson TV. Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy: A roadmap from the RReSTORe Consortium. Accepted to Molecular Neurodegeneration


24. Gomez D, Cheok S, Feng JJ, Chung R,. Pangal DJ, Ruzevick JJ, Gokoffski KK, Shiroishi MS, Wrobel BB, Carmichael JD, Zada G Outcomes following Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery in Patients Presenting with Monocular Blindness” Accepted in Operative Neurosurgery.


25. Shean R, Yu N, Guntipally S, Nguyen V, He X, Duan S, Gokoffski KK, Zhu Y, Xu B. Advances and Challenges in Wearable Glaucoma Diagnostics and Therapeutics Bioengineering 2024, 11(2), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11020138


26. Park K, Li J, Wen J, Li S, Lee J, Danesh K, Malkoff N, Gokoffski K, Lerner A, Patel V, Zhang-Nunes S, Chang J. Cureus. Extraocular Muscle Enlargement in Thyroid Eye Disease Using Volumetric Analysis. 2024 Jul 4;16(7):e63843. doi: 10.7759/cureus.63843. eCollection 2024 Jul. PMID: 39105029


27. Feng J, Shiroishi M, Cheok S, Briggs R, Cote D, Lei X, Peterson R, Gokoffski K, Carmichael J, Hwang D, Cen S, Zada G. Quantifying the Association Between Volumetric Extent of Resection and Visual Outcomes in Patients with Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas. Submitted J of Neurosurgery.


28. Kim T, Iseri E, Peng MG, Medvidovic S, Pahlavan P, Paknahad J, Machnoor M, Yao P, Lam P, Simonyan A, Shahidi M, Bienkowski MS, Lee DJ, Thomas B, Lazzi G, Gokoffski KK. Target Specific Axon Regeneration and Restoration of Vision with Electric Field Stimulation. Revisions submitted to PLoSONE.

BOOKS, MONOGRAPHS, AND TEXT BOOKS:

1. Gokoffski KK “Neurodegenerative Diseases,” Encyclopedia of Global Health, Sage Publications edited by Yawei Zhang. 2008

2. Gokoffski KK “Neural Tube Defects,” Encyclopedia of Global Health, Sage Publications edited by Yawei Zhang. 2008.

3. Gokoffski KK, Kawauchi S, Wu H-H, Santos R, Hollenbeck PLW, Lander AD, Calof AL. (2009)Feedback regulation of neurogenesis in the mammalian olfactory epithelium: New insights from genetics and systems biology. The Neurobiology of Olfaction. 241-265.

4. Gokoffski KK, Kawauchi S, Wu HH, Santos R, Hollenbeck PLW, Lander AD, Calof AL. “Feedback Regulation of Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Olfactory Epithelium: New Insights from Genetics and Systems Biology,” The Neurobiology of Olfaction, Anna Menini, Edition 1, CRC Press, September 2009, pp. 241-265.

5. Lin LK, Gokoffski KK. Eyelids and the Corneal Surface, Cornea, Holland and Mannis, Edition 4, Elsevier, 2016

6. Lin LK, Gokoffski KK. Epiphora. Cornea, Holland and Mannis, Edition 4, Elsevier, 2016

7. Beites CL, Kawauchi S, Santos R, Gokoffski KK, Calof AL. (2016)Patterning, cell specification and feedback in the olfactory epithelium. The Curated Reference Collection in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology. 145-156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.02621-3

8. Gokoffski KK, Patel VR. The Optic Nerve and Common Optic Neuropathies. Principles and Practice of Neuro-Ophthalmology. Prajna, Edition III, Jaypee Publishing, 2018

9. Gokoffski KK, Patel VR. Neurogenic Ptosis Diagnosis and Management. Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery of the Upper Face. Michael A. Burnstine, Dresner, Samimi, Edition 1, Thieme, 2019

10. Gokoffski KK, Peng M, Alas B, Lam P. (2020)Neuro-protection and neuro-regeneration of the optic nerve: Recent advances and future directions. Current Opinion in Neurology. 33(1);93-105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/WCO.0000000000000777

11. Gokoffski KK, Lam P, Alas BF, Peng MG, Ansorge HRR. (2020)Optic Nerve Regeneration: How Will We Get There?. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 40(2);234-242. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/WNO.0000000000000953

12. Gokoffski KK LA County Hospital Practice Guidelines for treatment of Acute Optic Neuritis

13. Peng M, Gokoffski KK. (2021) Updates on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Accepted to SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-021-00814-6

14. Sharf T, Kalakuntla T, J Lee D, Gokoffski KK. (2022)Electrical devices for visual restoration. Survey of Ophthalmology. 67(3);793-800. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.survophthal.2021.08.008

15. Sun A, Deboer C, Chang MY, Gokoffski KK Ocular Manifestations of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis. Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease. Anticipated publication 2025

16. Kalakuntla T, Gokoffski KK. Ocular Manifestations of Intracranial Tumors. Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease. Anticipated publication 2025

17. Tilak S, Gokoffski KK Ocular Manifestations of Multiple Sclerosis. Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease. Anticipated publication 2022

18. Peng M, Gokoffski KK Ocular Manifestations of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disease. Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease. Anticipated publication 2022

19. Peng M, Chang J, Gokoffski KKOcular Manifestations of Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Optic Neuritis. Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease. Anticipated publication 2022

20. Han M, Yi J, Gokoffski KK Orbital Anatomy and Considerations for Anterior Skull Base Surgery. “Surgery of the Anterior Skull Base: Catalogue of Minimally and Maximally Invasive Approaches.”

Pre-Publication

• Berryman JD, Balasubramaniam SC, Lim MC, Brodie KD, Gokoffski KK, Shen Y. (2022)
  Sub-acute Malignant Glaucoma In Eyes Without Previous Glaucoma Surgery Under review with BMC Glaucoma


• Park K, Li J, Wen J, Li S, Lee J, Danesh K, Malkoff N, Gokoffski K, Lerner A, Patel V, Zhang-Nunes S, Chang J. Cureus. Extraocular Muscle Enlargement in Thyroid Eye Disease Using Volumetric Analysis.2024 Jul 4;16(7):e63843. doi: 10.7759/cureus.63843. eCollection 2024 Jul. PMID: 39105029


• Feng J, Shiroishi M, Cheok S, Briggs R, Cote D, Lei X, Peterson R, Gokoffski K, Carmichael J, Hwang D, Cen S, Zada G. Quantifying the Association Between Volumetric Extent of Resection and Visual Outcomes in Patients with Nonfunctioning Pituitary Adenomas. Submitted J of Neurosurgery.


• Kim T, Iseri E, Peng MG, Medvidovic S, Silliman T, Pahlavan P, Niu G, Huang C, Simonyan A, Pahnahad J, Yao P, Lam P, Garimella V, Shahidi M, Bienkowski MS, Lee DJ, Thomas B, Lazzi G, Gokoffski KK. (2025)Electric field stimulation directs target-specific axon regeneration and partial restoration of vision after optic nerve crush injury. PLoS ONE. 20(45658)


• Phillips MJ, Gokoffski KK. (2025)Recurrent Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension-Related Papilledema After Abrupt Discontinuation of Semaglutide. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/WNO.0000000000002293


• Iseri E, Machnoor M, Nguyen TD, Sideris C, Gokoffski KK, Lazzi G. (2025)A Negative Impedance Converter Design to Enhance Capacitive Conduction Through a Neurostimulator Electrode Interface. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2025.3581537

Internal Medicine

Neuro-Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology

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https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=7317

Last updated
08/26/2025