A revolutionary new treatment alternative to corneal transplantation


Date:
June 30, 2020
Source:
University of Montreal
Summary:
A new approach in ophthalmology that offers a revolutionary
alternative to corneal transplantation has just been developed by
researchers and clinicians in North America, Europe, and Oceania.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new approach in ophthalmology that offers a revolutionary alternative
to corneal transplantation has just been developed by researchers and clinicians in North America, Europe, and Oceania.


==========================================================================
The team was co-led by May Griffith, a researcher at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, which is affiliated with Universite' de
Montre'al and is part of the CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'I^le-de-Montre'al.

The results of this multinational project have just been published in
the journal Science Advances.

"Our work has led to an effective and accessible solution called
LiQD Cornea to treat corneal perforations without the need for transplantation," said Griffith. She is also a full professor in the
Department of Ophthalmology at Universite' de Montre'al.

"This is good news for the many patients who are unable to undergo this operation due to a severe worldwide shortage of donor corneas," she said.

"Until now, patients on the waiting list have had their perforated
corneas sealed with a medical-grade super glue, but this is only a
short-term solution because it is often poorly tolerated in the eye,
making transplantation necessary." A synthetic, biocompatible and
adhesive liquid hydrogel, LiQD Cornea, is applied as a liquid, but
quickly adheres and gels within the corneal tissue.

The LiQD Cornea promotes tissue regeneration, thus treating corneal perforations without the need for transplantation.

Griffith praised the work of her trainees, Christopher McTiernan and
Fiona Simpson, and her collaborators from around the world who have
helped create a potentially revolutionary treatment to help people with
vision loss avoid going blind.

"Vision is the sense that allows us to appreciate how the world around us looks," said Griffith. "Allowing patients to retain this precious asset
is what motivates our actions as researchers every day of the week." For Sylvain Lemieux, president and CEO of the CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'I^le-de- Montre'al, "this innovative treatment in ophthalmology confirms the level
of expertise of the Centre universitaire d'ophtalmologie de l'Universite'
de Montre'al (CUO) at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (HMR).

"The HMR has one of the largest teams of ophthalmologists in Quebec and
one of the best-equipped ophthalmology research laboratories in North
America," he said. "The hard work of our scientists and clinicians
contributes daily to best practices and knowledge development.

"The multiple therapeutic possibilities resulting from our fundamental research, particularly in regenerative medicine, benefit and give hope
to people suffering from ophthalmological diseases not only in Quebec,
but in the rest of the world," he concluded.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Montreal. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Christopher D. McTiernan, Fiona C. Simpson, Michel Haagdorens,
Chameen
Samarawickrama, Damien Hunter, Oleksiy Buznyk, Per Fagerholm,
Monika K.

Ljunggren, Philip Lewis, Isabel Pintelon, David Olsen, Elle
Edin, Marc Groleau, Bruce D. Allan, May Griffith. LiQD Cornea:
Pro-regeneration collagen mimetics as patches and alternatives to
corneal transplantation.

Science Advances, 2020; 6 (25): eaba2187 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba2187 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200630072042.htm

--- up 23 weeks, 2 hours, 39 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)