Winners of ICO / Novartis Eye Research Bursary Announced
Two research projects have been awarded funding for this year’s ICO/Novartis Eye Research Bursary 2015-16. The winners were announced at the 7th Annual Retina Meeting which took place in Adare, Co Limerick on Thursday, 1st October.
One study, led by Dr. Khalid Kamel, looks at a genetic weakness which may predispose glaucoma patients to optic nerve damage. The clinical project is examining the role of mitochondrial DNA mutations and consequent mitochondrial dysfunction on pseudoexfoliation (PXF) glaucoma.
The second study, led by Dr Ghaleb Farouki, is an animal based project investigating the potential protective role of neutralising interleukin-18 binding protein on the development of laser induced choroidal neovascularisation in a mouse model. The research is aimed at identifying patients at an increased risk of developing Wet AMD
The expert panel this year was led by Professor David Henshall, Associate Professor of Physiology at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, and included Jeremy O Connor, Chair of the ICO Scientific and CPD Committee and ICO President Billy Power.
The winners will present an update on their work at the ICO Annual Conference 2016 in Killarney next May.
9th November 2015