The EYE-D research project seeks to identify new therapeutic treatments for degenerative retinal diseases, such as glaucoma, that cause vision loss.
A project on degenerative retinal diseases, led by researchers at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), has received €3.2m in funding.
The funding comes from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), as well as the project’s industry partners. SFI will provide €1.3m in funding to the project, which is called EYE-D.
EYE-D researchers are working with pharma companies Roche and Eli Lilly’s Disarm Therapeutics. They are also working with Progressive Vision Research, which is a private ophthalmology clinic. Charity Fighting Blindness Ireland is involved in the project, too. These four partners will provide an additional €1.6m in funding to EYE-D.
EYE-D is being led by TCD’s Prof Matthew Campbell, who is based at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics and Prof Sarah Doyle, from Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience.
According to Doyle, “This funding will allow us to build on the major successes our group has had in understanding degenerative eye diseases. Added to this, we can now recruit the most talented group of scientists internationally and place Ireland at the forefront of vision research.”
Campbell said the team was “excited about the potential developments that will emerge from this grant.”
“Spearheading a project with a cumulative budget of €3.2 million will allow us to make a major impact on the international stage of vision research. In addition, our research endeavours put us in a perfect position to identify the cause of some of the most common forms of blindness.”
Degenerative retinal diseases can result in severe loss of vision. The problem is estimated to affect 224,000 people in Ireland, and 40m people worldwide. The EYE-D research project seeks to identify new therapeutic treatments for Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and other inherited diseases that cause vision loss.
Prof Philip Nolan, SFI, said he “welcomed the broad partnership involved in supporting this research which includes industry, charities and higher education institutes.”
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