Obiettivo Keratoconus is an eye disorder in which the normally curved cornea, the clear window of the eye, progressively thins and begins to bulge into a cone-like shape, leading to significant visual impairment. Corneal cross-linking is the gold standard treatment for halting disease progression by using riboflavin activated by ultraviolet light (UVA) to introduce covalent chemical bonds (cross-links) into the cornea. To enhance permeability of riboflavin into the corneal stroma, epithelium removal is required and thus, patients with thin corneas are not eligible for this approach, as several complications have been reported, some temporary and some irreversible. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop new innovative therapeutic approaches that ideally avoid deepithelialization and the use of radiation. Genipin, is a naturally occurring cross-linking agent that has been proposed to have a biomechanical effect comparable to that of the contemporary cross-linking approach, without the need for deepithelization, and importantly to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. This research will investigate the potential application of Genipin for the treatment of keratoconus corneas and corneal inflammatory diseases. With the overarching aim to elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of action of Genipin in the cornea and to ascertain its anti-inflammatory activity on resident corneal cells called keratocytes, a combination of biomedical techniques and advanced 3D structural imaging modalities will be integrated, in a drive towards the establishment of a new therapeutic strategy for keratoconus and inflammatory diseases. The results of this study will elucidate the effect of Genipin on corneal keratocytes in vitro and in vivo and will provide the first ever direct measurement of the effect of Genipin on the corneal architecture in 3D, which will importantly serve to propose a new therapeutic approach for keratoconus, particularly advanced cases, and corneal inflammatory diseases. Campo scientifico medical and health scienceshealth sciencesinflammatory diseasesmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmology Programma(i) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Argomento(i) MSCA-IF-2017 - Individual Fellowships Invito a presentare proposte H2020-MSCA-IF-2017 Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MSCA-IF-GF - Global Fellowships Coordinatore CARDIFF UNIVERSITY Contribution nette de l'UE € 226 413,00 Indirizzo NEWPORT ROAD 30 36 CF24 0DE Cardiff Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Regione Wales East Wales Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 226 413,00 Partner (1) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo netto dell'UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto Partner Le organizzazioni partner contribuiscono all’attuazione dell’azione, ma non sottoscrivono l’accordo di sovvenzione. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA Colombia Contribution nette de l'UE € 0,00 Indirizzo CARREA 45 26-85 EDIFICIO URIEL GUTIERREZ QUINTO PI CIUDAD UNIVERSITARIA 111321 BOGOTA Mostra sulla mappa Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 134 685,60
