A drug target for common ocular inflammatory diseases (360G-Wellcome-201057_Z_16_Z)

Epithelia form cellular barriers such as the corneal epithelium, protecting the eye’s surface, and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a barrier between the blood and the retina. Epithelial defects are major components of common diseases, such as inflammation, infections, diabetes and age-related conditions. Professors Maria Balda and Karl Matter, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, have developed inhibitors targeting a central regulator of a mechanism activated in such diseases to prevent epithelial and endothelial inflammation, malfunction, and loss of or reduced vision. These pathological conditions are integral components of chronic inflammation and ageing; hence, they become increasingly more common. There are few treatments available and they are not very effective. Therefore, their project addresses an unmet, clinically relevant healthcare need and will potentially benefit a wide range of patients suffering of inflammatory and age-related conditions that become increasingly more common. Balda and Matter research programme thus has a high future potential healthcare impact and directly supports the strategic aim of Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology to develop new therapies with High-Patient-Impact. (172 word)