The Vision
Science Research team at Ulster have successfully obtained a further 3 years funding to continue their innovative research into the development of genetic tools to modify the front of the eye and potentially eliminate blindness caused by a number of eye disorders.
The project involves In vivo proof-of-concept for two gene silencing technologies in the dominantly inherited corneal dystrophies. Most CD is inherited in a dominant fashion, which means that the person with the disease has one normal copy of the gene and one abnormal copy. Half of their children, regardless of gender, will get the disease, adding further distress to the affected patients.
This form of eye disease is currently incurable except for possible grafting of donor corneal material which in itself is problematic due to the possibility of transfer of transmissible diseases e.g. CJD and the life-long risk of rejection.
These studies will provide a major advance in therapeutic translational research for CD, with far-reaching implications for additional inherited eye diseases and other organ systems.