Abstract:

The meeting will review the current status of corneal therapies based around stem cells and replacement technologies and the promising new horizons that are emerging to treat these ocular surface diseases in the next 5-10 years. The problems associated with bioengineering a new cornea, identifying and amplifying corneal stem cells and populating correctly an artificial stroma are just some of the issues to be addressed by the speakers in this meeting as we cover the successes and problems to be overcome to translate research discoveries into the clinic.

Programme:

• 1.00 Lunch & Registration
• 2.10 Welcome and introduction

Chair: Prof Roy Quinlan, School of Biological & Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham

• 2.15 The limbal stem cell niche and its role in ocular surface therapy

Dr Julie Daniels, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London

• 3.15 Corneal epithelium, stroma and endothelium

Dr Nigel Fullwood, Biological Sciences, University of Lancaster

• 4.15 Developing synthetic materials to replace the human cornea

Prof Sheila Macneil, Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield

• 5.00 Close

Ample time is left between talks to facilitate discussions with refreshments available throughout.

Supported by:

BioNEt, CELS and European Regional Development Fund

Registration:

Register for event by emailing Natasha Taylor