Dr Elena Koudouna
Bywgraffiad
Academic Qualifications
Sep 2010 – Jan 2014 Ph.D Structural Biophysics
School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Oct 2009- Aug 2010 MSc Biomedicine
Division of Life & Medical Sciences, Lancaster University, UK
Oct 2006 – Jun 2009 BSc (Hons) Cell Biology with Biomedicine
Division of Life & Medical Sciences, Lancaster University, UK
Anrhydeddau a Dyfarniadau
2011 1st Place Poster Prize Award
Cardiff University, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences Postgraduate Poster Day
Feb 2017 JSPS 2017 London Symposium Scheme
Funding to organise a JSPS-sponsored symposium entitled “Stem Cells and the Eye” between British and Japanese researchers in Nov 2017
Sep 2016 International Society for Eye Research (ISER) Travel Grant Fellowship
Conference Presenter Travel Grant Fellowship at the 2016 ISER International Meeting in Tokyo, Japan
Feb 2014 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Short-Term Post- Doctoral Fellowship
JSPS Post-Doctoral Fellowship award to conduct research in Prof. Noriko Koizumi’s lab in Doshisha University, Japan for 1 year
Sep 2013 British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB) Bursary
Conference presenter Bursary at the “Under pressure: the cell’s response” BSMB conference – Podium Presentation
Jun 2013 Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER) Bursary
Conference Presenter Bursary at the UK Tissue and Cell and Engineering Society Conference – Podium Presentation
Sep 2013 Funding for Interdisciplinary Activities awarded (CITER Soc)
Co-chair, along with Dr Sian Morgan (Cardiff University) the Postgraduate Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair Society (CITER Soc), an interdisciplinary, student-led, research group sponsored by CITER (www.cardiff.ac.uk/citer). Secured £792 of funding from the University Graduate College for a 150 attendee (UGRs, PGRs, School pupils, Academic Staff, Public) symposium titled ‘Catching a Killer’. Invited and liaised with speakers, arranged the catering and controlled the finances for the symposium. Co-chaired the event on the day.
Oct 2010 Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans President's PhD Studentship
Cardiff University Sir Martin Evans President's Research Scholarship
Aelodaethau proffesiynol
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
The U.S. Department of State, International Exchange Alumni Member
International Society for Eye Research (ISER)
British Society for Matrix Biology (BSMB)
UK Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Alumni Association
Cyhoeddiadau
2023
- Huertas-Bello, M., Cuéllar-Sáenz, J. A., Rodriguez, C. N., Cortés-Vecino, J. A., Navarrete, M. L., Avila, M. Y. and Koudouna, E. 2023. A pilot study to evaluate genipin in staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis models: Modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(8), article number: 6904. (10.3390/ijms24086904)
- Koudouna, E., Young, R. D., Quantock, A. J. and Ralphs, J. R. 2023. Developmental changes in patterns of distribution of fibronectin and tenascin-C in the chicken cornea: evidence for distinct and independent functions during corneal development and morphogenesis. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(4), article number: 3555. (10.3390/ijms24043555)
- Bains, K. K., Ashworth, S., Koudouna, E., Young, R. D., Hughes, C. E. and Quantock, A. J. 2023. Chondroitin sulphate/dermatan sulphate proteoglycans: potential regulators of corneal stem/progenitor cell phenotype in vitro. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(3), article number: 2095. (10.3390/ijms24032095)
2022
- Bell, J., Morgan, S., Koudouna, E., Hayes, S. and Meek, K. 2022. The hierarchical response of human corneal collagen to controlled inflation. Presented at: 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, USA, 1-4 May 2022, Vol. 63. Vol. 7. IOVS pp. 2392.
2021
- Koudouna, E., Mikula, E., Brown, D. J., Young, R. D., Quantock, A. J. and Jester, J. V. 2021. Response to letter to Editor “comments on ‘cell regulation of collagen fibril macrostructure during corneal morphogenesis’ by Koudouna et al.”. Acta Biomaterialia 136, pp. 594-595. (10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.061)
- Koudouna, E., Huertas-Bello, M., Rodriguez, C. N., Consuelo Henao, S., Navarrete, M. L. and Avila, M. Y. 2021. Genipin in an ex vivo corneal model of bacterial and fungal keratitis. Translational Vision Science & Technology 10(9), article number: 31. (10.1167/tvst.10.9.31)
- Donovan, C., Koudouna, E., Margo, C. E., Avila, M. Y. and Espana, E. M. 2021. Genipin delays corneal stromal enzymatic digestion. Translational Vision Science & Technology 10(9), article number: 25. (10.1167/tvst.10.9.25)
- Ashworth, S. et al. 2021. Chondroitin sulfate as a potential modulator of the stem cell niche in cornea. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 8, article number: 567358. (10.3389/fcell.2020.567358)
2020
- Young, R. D. et al. 2020. Observations on nascent matrix structures in embryonic cornea: Important in cell interactions, or merely vestiges of the lens surface?. Archives of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2(2), pp. 67-72. (10.46439/ophthalmology.2.014)
- Koudouna, E., Spurlin, J., Babushkina, A., Quantock, A. J., Jester, J. V. and Lwigale, P. 2020. Recapitulation of normal collagen architecture in embryonic wounded corneas. Scientific Reports 10(1), article number: 13815. (10.1038/s41598-020-70658-y)
2019
- Young, R. D. et al. 2019. Cell-independent matrix configuration in early corneal development. Experimental Eye Research 187, article number: 107772. (10.1016/j.exer.2019.107772)
2018
- Koudouna, E., Mikula, E., Brown, D. J., Young, R. D., Quantock, A. J. and Jester, J. V. 2018. Cell regulation of collagen fibril macrostructure during corneal morphogenesis. Acta Biomaterialia 79, pp. 96-112. (10.1016/j.actbio.2018.08.017)
- Koudouna, E., Winkler, M., Mikula, E., Juhasz, T., Brown, D. J. and Jester, J. V. 2018. Evolution of the vertebrate corneal stroma. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 64, pp. 65-76. (10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.01.002)
2017
- Gouveia, R. M., Koudouna, E., Jester, J., Figueiredo, F. and Connon, C. J. 2017. Template curvature influences cell alignment to create improved human corneal tissue equivalents. Advanced Biosystems 1(12), article number: 1700135. (10.1002/adbi.201700135)
- Koudouna, E. et al. 2017. Immune cells on the corneal endothelium of an allogeneic corneal transplantation rabbit model. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 58(1), pp. 242-251. (10.1167/iovs.16-20019)
2013
- Koudouna, E. 2013. Structural and biochemical investigations of the cornea and the trabecular meshwork. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.
2011
- Koudouna, E. et al. 2011. Preliminary electron microscopical studies of connective tissue in the human lamina cribrosa [Abstract]. International Journal of Experimental Pathology 92(6), pp. A26. (10.1111/j.1365-2613.2011.00780.x)
- Veronesi, G., Salome, M., Fayard, B., Castillo-Michel, H., Koudouna, E., Quantock, A. J. and Cotte, M. 2011. X-ray spectro-microscopy at ID21: mapping of elements and chemical states at subcellular level [Abstract]. European Biophysics Journal 40(S1), pp. S130-S131. (10.1007/s00249-011-0734-z)
My research focuses on investigating cell-matrix interactions that define tissue structure and function using a range of cellular/molecular techniques and advances in 3D structural imaging modalities, with an overarching aim to understand matrix deposition and tissue architecture.
Publications
E Koudouna, N Okumura, Y Okazaki, S Nakano, R Inoue, NJ Fullwood, J Hori, S Kinoshita, N Koizumi. Immune Cells on the Corneal Endothelium of an Allogeneic Corneal Transplantation Rabbit Model. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2017; 58: 242-251
E Koudouna, RD Young, M Ueno, S Kinoshita, C Knupp, AJ Quantock. Three-dimensional architecture of collagen type VI in the human trabecular meshwork. Molecular Vision 2014; 20:38- 648. Citations: 4
G Veronesi, E Koudouna, M Cotte, FL Martin, AJ Quantock. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy identifies differential sulfur speciation in corneal tissue. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 2013; 405:6613-6620. Citations: 9
E Koudouna, G Veronesi, II Patel, M Cotte, C Knupp, FL Martin, AJ Quantock. Chemical composition and sulfur speciation in bulk tissue by x-ray spectroscopy and x-ray microscopy: Corneal development during embryogenesis. Biophysical Journal 2012;103:357-364. Citations: 6
E Koudouna, E Mikula, DJ Brown, RD Young, C Knupp, AJ Quantock, J Jester. Chick corneal morphogenesis: A new role for keratocytes. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2017; 58 (8), 1998.
HS Hwang, Y Xie, E Koudouna, DJ Brown, J Jester. Light Transmission Characteristics of the Meibomian Gland: What Does Meibography Detect?. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2017; 58(8), 2238.
RD Young, C Knupp, E Koudouna, PN Lewis, KM Meek, AJ Quantock. Studies of collagen organisation and early stages of cell infiltration in the primary stroma of developing chick cornea. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2016; 57, 1909
E Koudouna, N Okumura, S Nakano, R Inoue, N Fullwood, Y Okazaki, S Kinoshita, N Koizumi; Existence of inflammatory cells on donor corneal endothelium in a Descemet’s stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty rabbit model. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2015; 56(7):4022.
E Koudouna, C Pinali; RD. Young, B Palka, M Ueno, C Boot, C Knupp, AJ Quantock. Preliminary electron microscopical studies of connective tissue in the human lamina cribrosa. International Journal of Experimental Pathology. 2011; 92(6):A26 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2613.2011.00780.x