Eye Banks, Exports, And Australian Opinion: Exploring National Utility Of Human Corneal Tissue Donation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$111,973.00
Summary
Human corneal tissue donations from the deceased can outstrip the demand of eye tissue from ophthalmologists to perform a corneal transplantation, a surgical procedure to treat blindness. This research will determine the quantity of surplus eye tissue, and community understanding of donation and support for exportation. This will help the sector with decision-making on management of oversupply and potential exporte to other countries in need.
Mapping The Dynamics Of Corneal Stem Cell During Aging And After Wounding And Transplantation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$548,403.00
Summary
Restoring vision in patients with corneal blindness is our focus. Before this can be achieved we need to understand how corneal stem cells function. For many reasons these studies cannot be performed in man, so we engineered a mouse in which the location, migration, division, differentiation, death of these cells can be followed indefinitely. This information will allow us to improve current therapeutic options and develop new clinical solution for patients with blinding corneal disease.
Cultivated Corneal Endothelial Cell Implants For Restoring Vision
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$886,032.00
Summary
Thousands of Australians each year receive a corneal tissue transplant from the eyes of a deceased organ donor. In the majority of cases these transplants are performed to restore structure and function to the most posterior layer of the cornea – the corneal endothelium. The reliance upon donor tissue, however, presents significant logistical and safety issues. Our goal is therefore to develop improved strategies for treating diseases of the corneal endothelium using cultivated tissue implants.
A Novel Mesenchymal Stromal Cell And Biomaterial For Corneal Reconstruction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,611.00
Summary
Our research group has identified a new cell type (L-MSC) with the potential to treat a variety of eye diseases. We have also developed a novel material from a protein found in silk, that has potential as a vehicle for delivering healthy cells into diseased eyes. The present project will build upon these promising results by evaluating the properties of L-MSC necessary for clinical use and by testing the feasibility of our new cell delivery system.
Therapeutics For Repair And Regeneration Of The Cornea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$166,087.00
Summary
Corneal disease is the commonest cause of irreversible blindness and of the 50 million people world-wide who are bilaterally blind, 10 million are blind from corneal involvement. This proposal will address corneal disease by 1. innovative translational research for corneal repair and regeneration; 2. developing evidence-based management guidelines for corneal disease, and 3. by optimising health service delivery.
The goal of this research is to improve outcomes for people at risk of becoming blind or visually impaired. The focus is on those who require a corneal transplant, or who suffer from inflammatory eye disease or painful disease of the ocular surface, on neonates with retinopathy of prematurity, or those with the eye disease, keratoconus. We will investigate new treatment options for eye diseases and will examine the evidence for the success of surgical and other therapeutic interventions.