Translational Veterinary Ophthalmic Research Group

The main research interests of the Translational Veterinary Ophthalmic Research Group are on the following topics:

• Mechanobiology of corneal wound healing:

These basic research projects revolve around the hypothesis that the reciprocal force balance existing between cells and their extracellular matrix, called tensional homeostasis, is an important regulator of fibrosis. Pathologic fibrosis can cause major clinical problems in the anterior segment of the eye, most notably loss of corneal transparency and glaucoma (eye pressure increase). Understanding the basic mechanisms governing cell-ECM crosstalk is becoming increasingly important with the vast increase in popularity of novel clinical and tissue engineering tools that mechanically and biochemically modify the cellular microenvironment and thus affect cell fate. The results have clinical relevance and translation potential for future studies designed to evaluate and develop treatment strategies.

• Treatment of infectious corneal disease:

Specific foci are the antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial and fungal corneal infectious agents and the elimination of corneal infections and stabilization of the corneal stroma through UV-A/Riboflavin crosslinking of the cornea (CXL), an established alternative to medical treatment.

• Ocular imaging:

The recent advent and acquisition of high resolution advanced imaging technologies (ultrasound biomicroscopy, microcoil assisted MRT and Optical Coherence Tomography) have given momentum to this new research focus.

We work in collaboration with CABMM members Markus Rottmar (Empa) and Farhad Hafezi.