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Retinal vascular diseases such as retinal arterial occlusion and diabetic retinopathy are a major cause of blindness worldwide. Dr. Derwent's research program, conducted at the Retinal Vascular Research Laboratory, emphasizes understanding the underlying causes of, developing diagnostic tools for early detection of and exploring optimal pharmacological treatment options for these diseases. Utilizing animal models of thrombotic retinal occlusion and diabetic retinopathy, the team is looking to gain greater insight into the origins and developmental stages of the diseases. With this, Dr. Kang Derwent hopes to detail a basis for optimizing treatments. To achieve the deeper level of understanding, Dr. Kang Derwent’s laboratory uses a number of both established and leading edge tools: visual function is assessed through the use of electroretinography, i.e. electrical responses arising from retinal cells in response to stimulus, quantitative retinal blood flow measurement using retinal vascular imaging and a particle tracking method by scanning laser ophthalmoscope and quantitative/computational models of retinal blood flow. The results obtained from the experimental model will serve as a foundation for the development and determination of efficacy of possible treatments to fight diabetic retinopathy and arterial occlusion.
Another area of research interest in Dr. Kang Derwent's laboratory is an investigation of photoreceptor degeneration due to retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration. Photoreceptor degeneration is often a cause of blindness and, currently, there is no effective therapy. A primary, near-term goal in Dr. Kang Derwent's laboratory is to investigate the optimal conditions and biomaterial surface to culture healthy photoreceptors which maintain the functional and structural characteristics of in vivo cells. The research team is exploring various surface modification and cell culturing techniques to address this goal. The long-term goal is to implant the cultured photoreceptor cells into an in vivo system and investigate the efficacy as a therapy to rescue or replace degenerated photoreceptors.
Furthermore, Dr. Kang Derwent has expanded the scope of her team’s investigations to study the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/anti-VEGF in diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Recently, it has been demonstrated that anti-VEGF may have a significant impact on the management of these diseases. Our effort will be to investigate a) any vision improvement mechanism of anti-VEGF and b) how to deliver these agents effectively to the retina. Utilizing biomaterials development, in vitro and in vivo testing, and computational modeling, our goal is to develop an optimal drug delivery platform.
» Current Projects
1. in vivo Retinal Hemodynamics: Development and application of scanning laser ophthalmoscope vascular imaging technique to assess retinal blood flow non-invasively. This technique is used to examine the involvement of nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-VEGF in retinal blood flow in vascular retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein/arterial occlusions.
2. Retinal Cellular Function: Development of algorithms to quantify electroretinogram (ERG) components obtained in vivo and application of the technique to evaluate the effects of NO on retinal cellular function. Measurement of intraretinal NO level distribution coupled with ERG signals to examine the role of NO in diabetic retinopathy animal model.
3. Ocular Drug Delivery: Development of an optimal drug delivery platform to release anti-VEGF agents in a controlled manner to replace the conventional intravitreal injection method. Encapsulation of anti-VEGF agents using thermo-responsive hydrogels will be implanted in the juxascleral space (outside of the eye wall) and the efficacy will be determined in an in vivo animal model. A computational model of anti-VEGF agent transport properties across the sclera will be utilized to optimize the material development.
4. Biomaterial Surface for Retinal Cells: Development of methodology for modifying patterned biomaterial surfaces to allow isolated photoreceptor cells to attach and grow in vitro. The goal is to be able to promote cells growth on patterned biomaterial surfaces and to be able to implant back into animal models that mimic retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. | 