MULTI-CENTRED CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A NOVEL KERATOPROSTHESIS
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,091.00
Summary
The prosthesis developed by applicants, known also as Chirila keratoprosthesis, is an artificial implantable device designed to replace a diseased cornea or a failed corneal graft, and can be used in patients with no hope for a conventional replacement of the cornea with donor tissue. The device may ultimately find a wider application, as it has the potential to give better visual results than human donor grafts. Even when not rejected, the donor grafts may lead to problematic healing patterns a ....The prosthesis developed by applicants, known also as Chirila keratoprosthesis, is an artificial implantable device designed to replace a diseased cornea or a failed corneal graft, and can be used in patients with no hope for a conventional replacement of the cornea with donor tissue. The device may ultimately find a wider application, as it has the potential to give better visual results than human donor grafts. Even when not rejected, the donor grafts may lead to problematic healing patterns and astigmatism, both limiting the final vision of patients. From the 45 million blind people worldwide, at least 10 million are due to corneal diseases or trauma. The figures released by WHO suggest a doubling of this number by year 2020. Many countries are unable to provide sufficient donor corneas, sometimes for cultural-religious reasons. In developed countries, the replacement with donor tissue is a common procedure, but many patients remain untreated because their prognosis for successful grafting is poor. Figures released in Australia show that long-term success of donor transplantation is unlikely in the patients identified as high-risk recipients. Furthermore, even technically successful cases show disppointing final vision. The significance of the applicants' artificial cornea is that allows high-risk, or otherwise untreatable corneal blind patients, to have their vision restored, and it could ultimately reduce the need for donor corneal tissue. A phase I pilot study has been completed, and Phase II is currently underway with support from NH and MRC. These studies showed that the Chirila KPro is an effective means of reversible replacement of a diseased cornea.The proposed Phase III will evaluate both safety and effectiveness in different categories of patients in comparison with published outcomes of donor grafting, and will establish unequivocally the clinical potential of this prosthesis.Read moreRead less
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.
Application Of Adult Stem Cells To Bioengineered Corneal Epithelium And Endothelium Autografts
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,314.00
Summary
Damage to the cornea causes vision loss. Transplants can restore sight but carry risk of rejection and therefore require anti-rejection therapy, which has side effects. Bioengineered corneal components could replace transplants. Our goals are: 1) Growth of corneal endothelium and epithelium from adult stem cells to reduce the amount of tissue so the patient's own cells could be used. 2) Develop scaffolds that are suitable for implantation or other methods to deliver cells.
Genome-wide Association Studies To Identify Major Genetic Determinants Of 5 Blinding Eye Diseases Using Pooled DNA
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$562,193.00
Summary
This project aims to find important genes for 5 diseases that can lead to blindness. We will use a cost-effective approach where samples from a large number of individuals with a given disorder are pooled (mixed together) and then compared on gene chips covering the whole genome to a pool of people who do not have the disease. Differences identified between the groups will point to genes causing that disease. We will identify any major genes for the 5 diseases being studied.
Mechanisms Of Novel TLR9 Mediated Intraocular Inflammation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,244.00
Summary
Corneal opacities and scarring due to microbial and parasitic infections are a major cause of blindness globally. Novel studies in our lab have shown that topical application of bacterial/viral DNA alone to the cornea can cause previously unrecognised inflammation in the retina. Understanding the mechanisms of this retinal inflammation and how to block it may help in the design of novel treatments for a number of blinding conditions.