Research summary
According to the World Health Organization, corneal opacity is the fourth-leading cause of blindness globally—and there is a severe shortage of donor corneas. Around the world, only one patient in 70 is treated. Dr. May Griffith, Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials and Stem Cells in Ophthalmology, is looking for a solution.
Griffith and her research team are developing pro-regeneration injectable fillers that can prompt patients’ stem cells to regenerate corneal cells and nerves. This solution is essentially a “liquid cornea,” composed of collagen-like peptides conjugated to a polymeric backbone and gelled into a stable patch that stimulates the patient’s stem cells. Griffith hopes this innovative treatment can be provided in outpatient settings (such as doctors’ offices), alleviating the need for donor corneas and complicated surgeries.