MEC ImpactReport 2024 flipBook v1.0 single pages - Flipbook - Page 23
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£107,758 to support the
£43,846 supporting
sharing and dissemination
the publication of
of knowledge over the
outputs over the
last six years
last six years
Working together more closely than ever
The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is all about working
and learning together. It houses state-of-the-art multiuser equipment that can be shared across all research
departments and teams at the institute. This helps to
improve efficiency and accelerate research, as well as
building connections and opportunities for collaboration
between research teams from different areas.
Investigating how mitochondria and
metabolism contribute to eye disease
Eye cells use a lot of energy,
groups from across the
and it is becoming clearer that
institute to better understand
The Seahorse Bioanalyser also
mitochondria (which provide
the metabolic processes
allows for high-throughput
our cells with energy) may be
occurring within eye cells, and
testing of drugs to assess their
involved in the development
explore how mitochondrial
impact on the mitochondria
of a wide range of visual
dysfunction may contribute
and metabolism of eye
diseases. To support this area of
to the development of
cells, which could help the
research, the charity awarded
common diseases like diabetic
researchers to accelerate the
an equipment grant to install
retinopathy, glaucoma and
discovery of new drugs to
a new Seahorse Bioanalyser in
macular degeneration.
treat eye disease.
the institute, which measures
how cells are using energy.
This new piece of shared
equipment has already
enabled 16 different research
Having a Seahorse within the institute has transformed
our ability to perform key experiments examining
mitochondrial function in a range of diseases.
Professor Mike Cheetham
What next?
By giving us a greater
to preserve people’s sight. It
in new grants already secured.
understanding of how
is already a vital component
This cutting-edge equipment
metabolism and mitochondria
of a new clinical trial to
has also fostered closer
contribute to common eye
optimise treatments for
collaboration between
diseases and how different
glaucoma (scheduled to start
research staff and students
drugs interact with this process,
in 2024) and has underpinned
at the institute, encouraging
the Seahorse Bioanalyser can
research publications, two PhD
interdisciplinary projects and
help pave the way for new
studentships and 10 new grant
the creation of a new cellular
treatments and interventions
applications, with £1.1 million
metabolism working group.
