In Brief: Researcher receives prestigious ophthalmology grant

Researcher, Dr Shivani Kasbekar, from the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, has been awarded a prestigious grant from a new series of Clinical Research Training Fellowships (CRTFs).

Dr Kasbekar will develop novel grafts to treat patients with severe ocular surface disease by transplanting regenerated tissue into the eye.

The research will look at ways to enable ophthalmologists to develop new surgical strategies to reconstruct the surface of the eye, reduce pain, and improve visual outcomes for patients with severe conjunctival disease.

Study may also lead to cell replacement therapies which can be used to treat other hitherto incurable conditions in the future.

The Fellowship scheme is supported by The Medical Research Council (MRC), The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) and Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK.