Stem cells, regeneration and repair

Our research is aimed at understanding the causes of ocular degeneration and the development of novel eye care treatments and products for improved ocular health.

To address the world-wide shortage of corneal donor tissue for the treatment of corneal disorders and pathologies, we have joined forces with Linkoping University, the University of Montreal and LV Prasad Eye Institute, in an international collaborative effort to develop a suitable artificial corneal replacement.

We also continue to collaborate closely with clinician-scientists in Osaka University to harness the power of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to generate transplantable eye tissue capable of restoring visual function.

In the field of glaucoma and inherited optic neuropathy, our research investigates novel therapeutic agents, which include adult stem cells, as well as their secreted constituents (e.g. exosomes). We test these novel neuroprotective therapeutic strategies in state-of-the-art in vitro and in vivo models, and human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal cultures.