Research
My research interests concentrate on the design and modification of biomaterials and the biological response to them in various clinically-related applications. I am currently developing injectable ocular drug delivery systems and technology to transplant cells under the retina.
Specialties: biomaterials, cell-material interactions, materials characterisation, ophthalmic biomaterials,
Ocular drug delivery
I am interested in developing novel, biomaterial-based ocular drug delivery systems and models (in vitro and in silico) to test them. This work involved biomaterials, chemistry, engineering, imaging and computer modelling, supported by input from clinical and industrial collaborators.
Clinical Need:
Repeated intravitreal injections of therapeutic drugs into the vitreous of the eye is currently one of the best clinical approaches to attaining sustained exposure of drugs in the posterior segment for the treatment of conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Implantable drug delivery systems could offer an alternative to injections, using biomaterials tailored to deliver therapeutic levels of drugs in a controlled manner over extended periods of time. This would reduce the time, cost to patients and the NHS and the risk of complications.
Cell therapies for posterior segment eye disease
I have expertise in the modification and characterisation of biomaterial substrates. Of particular interest is the optimisation of surfaces to be used to grow cells for engineering tissue. This involves using a range of techniques. I also have expertise in the isolation and expansion of primary ocular cells.
Research grants
Sustained, injectable ocular drug delivery systems
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2018 - June 2023
An Injectable Implant Providing Long-Acting Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Chronic disease
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2019 - April 2023
IPE stem cells for the treatment of retinal diseases
JAMES KENT TRUST (UK)
October 2017 - December 2022
Study of response to substrates for subretinal transplant
JAMES KENT TRUST (UK)
October 2015 - March 2025
Surgical Retina Research – David Steel
FOUNDATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS (UK)
August 2019 - December 2025
Clinical PhD in Translational Eye and Vision Research Post 1
ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (UK), ROYAL LIVERPOOL AND BROADGREEN UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS TRUST CHARITABLE FUNDS (UK)
August 2017 - December 2021
Ocular surface neoplasia
FIGHT FOR SIGHT (UK)
September 2016 - November 2017
Drug-releasing oils for the treatment of retinal diseases
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2016 - March 2017
EPSRC Institutional Sponsorship 2016
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
July 2016 - March 2017
Development of silicone oil tamponades for drug delivery
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
October 2013 - July 2015
Advanced materials for tissue engineered solutions for vision loss
THE BRIAN MERCER CHARITABLE TRUST (UK), THE ULVERSCROFT FOUNDATION (UK)
October 2013 - September 2015
Research collaborations
Dr Joseph Chan
University of Hong Kong
Biomaterials for ophthalmology
Dr Anderson Shum
University of Hong Kong
Models for assessment of silicone oil emulsification
Dr Serban Pop
University of Chester
Computation modelling
Dr Krasimir Vasilev
Mawson Institute, University of South Australia
Plasma polymer coatings for biomaterial substrates
Dr Boris Stanzel
University of Bonn
In vivo studies for RPE transplant project
Dr Tom McDonald
Ocular drug delivery
Prof Steve Rannard
Ocular drug delivery
Prof Ian Pearce
St Paul's Eye Unit
Vitreoretinal research and translation
Miss Rumana Hussain
St Paul's Eye Unit
Vitreoretinal research and translation
Prof David Wong
St Paul's Eye Unit
Vitreoretinal research and translation
Prof Robert Poole
Rheological evaluation of tamponade agents
Dr Caroline Smith
Study of extracellular matrix