We also use the cornea as an experimental model to gain insights into neovascular disease (angiogenesis). New regenerative treatments and surgical techniques are being researched and developed, and patient populations are being characterized in clinical studies using advanced imaging techniques. Some of the ongoing projects in the group include:
- Mechanisms and treatment of corneal neovascularization
- Non-invasive imaging of peripheral nerve fibers in the cornea as a surrogate marker for diabetes onset and progression
- Clinical, molecular and genetic studies of European aniridia cohorts
- Bioengineering the cornea: from materials to clinical applications
Developing new therapies for blindness and visual impairment
Our research group has a strong focus on developing new surgical methods and evaluating experimental compounds and drug delivery methods for treating corneal disease.
For over a decade the Lagali lab has been experimenting with femtosecond laser-based corneal surgery to evaluate the wound healing response and develop less invasive surgical methods. Wound healing, inflammation, and neovascularization can be triggered by surgery, and the goal is to minimize these unwanted effects by adapting the surgery to cause minimal trauma to the cornea.
Collaborating with adjunct Senior Lecturer Mehrdad Rafat from the Department of Biomedical Engineering, surgeries are being developed for implantation of bioengineered materials to enable vision restoration and long-term delivery of drugs to the cornea.
Femtosecond laser interface used for cutting and reshaping the cornea. Photo credit Thor Balkhed
STEM-CORE: New EU programme to train the next-generation eye therapy experts, 2025 -
A new European research and training doctoral network, STEM-CORE, has been awarded funding by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). STEM-CORE brings together an international and cross-sectoral team to train the next generation of researchers, focusing on corneal disease: one of the world’s leading causes of blindness and a condition that remains difficult to treat.
STEM-CORE aims to develop a sustainable and affordable stem cell therapy to restore vision in patients with corneal blindness caused by stem cell deficiency. Coordinated by Radboud University (the Netherlands), the STEM-CORE network brings together top scientists and supervisors from eleven organisations in nine countries across Europe, from both academic and non-academic sectors.
Consortium partners include Radboud University (the Netherlands), Tampere University (Finland), Fondazione Banca Degli Occhi (Italy), Izmir Biomedicine and genome centre (Turkey), CSIC (Spain), Uniklinik Koln (Germany), Linkoping University (Sweden), Inserm (France), Universitat des Saarlandes (Germany), Biotalentum Ltd (Hungary).
Restore Vision | Advancing Treatments for Rare Eye Diseases in Europe inklusive, 2023 - 2027
Restore Vision is a project funded by the European Commission aiming to develop and test new treatments for 7 rare eye diseases (REDs). The consortium joins 10 European key players on rare eye diseases and is led by University of Galway.
Over the the next 4 years (2023-2027) the Restore Vision consortium will explore new treatments for 7 REDs by repurposing existing generic drugs, developing new therapeutic compounds, and conducting pioneering clinical trials to ensure their safety and effectiveness.
Watch the video presentation of the project (link to Youtube):
