MEC ImpactReport 2023 flipbook - Flipbook - Page 10
Research
Objective 2: Be the leading charity
for research into eye health
Moorfields Eye Charity supports the pioneering work of Moorfields
and UCL to make new discoveries, and turn new knowledge into
treatments to improve eye health and outcomes, for patients of
Moorfields and people globally. We collaborate with other funders
to maximise research funding for eye health.
New approaches to restoring sight
Saj Ahmad’s move to Moorfields in 2016 was key for the
hospital and for corneal research. The charity’s support was
critical in enabling Moorfields Eye Hospital to make this
key recruitment. We’re delighted to support Saj’s research
programme across a number of grant funding initiatives.
£5,431,886
funding awarded to
research projects
over the last year
A key priority of his research has been to take existing work
on lab-grown corneal cells further. He aimed to make strides
towards translating this approach from the laboratory into the
clinic – where it could offer new and better treatment options
for patients with conditions affecting their cornea.
£
Cornea transplants
Both a wide range of eye conditions and trauma to the eye itself
(for example, as a result of acid attacks) can affect the health of
our cornea. One part of the cornea which is commonly damaged
is the inner lining of cells (the endothelium).
23
research projects funded
over the last year
While corneal endothelial failure is traditionally treated
through a wholesale corneal transplant, recent advances
in surgery have allowed clinicians to transplant just the
endothelial layer. This new approach shows lower rejection
rates, faster recovery and better outcomes for patients than
transplanting the whole cornea.
However, the tools and skills to perform endothelial transplants
are expensive and in short supply. What’s more, there is a global
shortage of donor corneas for transplantation.
Saj Ahmad
Saj therefore set out to better understand how we can grow
corneal endothelial cells in the lab, in the hope that lab-grown
cells could one day be transplanted into patients – offering a
powerful new treatment option that’s not dependent on finding
a corneal donor!