Project details

Type of funding: PhD studentship
Grant holder: Daniels, Julie (Dr); Abraham, D (Prof); Dart, J (Mr)
Student: Dale, Sarah (Miss)
Institute: UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
Conditions: Conjunctival disease
Start date: Oct 2010
End date: Sep 2013
Title: Signal transduction pathways promoting conjunctival fibrosis: therapeutic implications of selective inhibition.
Description:

Conjunctival scarring is a major component of some eye diseases including trachoma, chemical injuries and mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP). However the control of fibrosis, and potential for scar modification, has been barely studied in these eye diseases. MMP is an autoimmune disease (like rheumatoid arthritis) and targets the lining tissues (mucous membranes) of the eyes and mouth, becoming lifelong after its onset between 30-90 years. The disease causes inflammation, ulceration and scarring. It is debilitating, painful and results in blindness in 30% of patients. Previous studies on MMP by this group has shown that scarring progresses despite good clinical control of inflammation and that IL-13, a key fibrosis-stimulating molecule, is present in the conjunctiva of these apparently well treated patients.

This project aims to identify the key molecules controlling the scarring process, in order to select those that are promising targets for the currently available inhibitors. The goal is to develop locally delivered (local eye drops or injections) anti-fibrotic therapies for these scarring eye diseases as an adjunct to the anti-inflammatory therapy that is currently the mainstay of treatment.

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