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Collaborators
Core Research Facilities

 



Core Research Facilities
Dated : April 2008

SERI Core Research Divisions

SERI Clinical Research Unit conducts ocular therapeutics, surgical and laser-related human clinical trials, and clinical studies in visual psychophysics. Clinical trials and translational research are conducted in the following fields:

  • Cataract
  • Corneal transplantation
  • Diabetic eye disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Myopia
  • Ocular drug delivery devices
  • Ocular surface disease
  • Ocular wound healing
  • Pterygium
  • Pharmaceutical and ocular drug delivery
  • New refractive surgery treatments
  • Retinal vascular diseases
  • Stem cell biology and clinical transplantation
  • Tissue engineering
  • Visual psychophysics studies

SERI Laboratory Sciences Unit comprises

  • Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratories
  • Proteomics-Microanalysis Laboratory
  • Tissue Culture Laboratories
  • Ocular Surface Stem Cell Laboratory
  • Ocular Genetics Laboratory

The SERI Proteomics-Microanalysis Laboratory

The SERI Proteomics-Microanalysis Laboratory provide expertise and instrumentation facilitating eye research across Singapore for insights into peptide and protein concomitants of eye disease, analysis of drug levels and kinetics in both humans and animals, and includes the infrastructure for a broader effort in proteomics and biomarkers of eye diseases. We are also bioengineering natural peptides as new anti-infectives for bacterial, viral and fungal infections, as well as carrying out basic research in proteomics. This group works with the Ocular Surface Inflammation research group to identify proteomic biomarkers of inflammation that can be used for diagnosis of disease, progression and therapeutic response. A biomarker panel for dry eye is undergoing further clinical evaluation. Other efforts are directed toward ocular cancers and new tear biomarkers. Additionally, this multidisciplinary group has designed and synthesized new antimicrobial peptides which have outstanding characteristics. Fundamental work is on going into the mechanisms of the killing ability of antimicrobial peptides.

SERI Epidemiological Unit Division conducts and coordinates epidemiological and population-based projects under the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases (SEED) programme. The objectives of the SEED programme are to describe the prevalence, incidence, risk factors and impact of major age-related eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), myopia, angle-closure glaucoma and cataract. This programme has a particular focus on diseases that are prevalent in Asia-Pacific and comprises the following studies

  • Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES)
  • Singapore Indian Chinese Cohort Eye Study (SICC)
  • Tanjong Pagar Survey
  • Singapore Prospective Cohort Study (SP2)
  • Singapore Cohort Study of Risk Factors for Myopia (SCORM)
  • Strabismus, Amblyopia and Refractive Error Study in Pre-school children (STAR)
SERI Ocular Imaging Unit conducts research in various retinal and ocular imaging projects under the Singapore Retinal Image Archival and Analysis Network (SIRIAN), performing research in coordination with SEED to determine the systemic associations, risk factors, natural history and impact of retinal vascular signs, and the relationship of these signs to diabetes, hypertension, stroke and heart disease; to develop methods to quantify these retinal vascular signs, and to evaluate their use as a potential vascular screening tool. The programme has collaborative studies in Australia (Multi-Centre Retinal Stroke Study, the Blue Mountains Eye Study, the AusDiab Study) and United States (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, the Cardiovascular Health Study). Developmental research imaging is conducted with the School of Computing, National University of Singapore and A*STAR’s Institute of Infocomm Research (I2R).

SERI Visual Psychophysics Unit focuses on visual function and the improvement of visual performance. Studies include novel computerized, Internet-based, neurophysiologically-derived visual exercises to improve visual acuity in myopia and amblyopia, studies in various clinical disorders such as keratoconus, pterygium and in post-refractive surgery patients together with electrophysiological studies of retinal function in high myopia and retinal disorders.

SERI Endothelial Keratoplasty Research Group

Research into new forms of Endothelial Keratoplasty, including Descemets Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK) and Descemets Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), and other forms of emerging lamellar corneal transplantation procedures focuses on development of new surgical methods of donor acquisition and insertion, development of new surgical devices and instrumentation, and development of animal and human eye bank models for endothelial assessment. Research with new surgical femtosecond laser technologies to perform EK and other selective lamellar corneal procedures are also underway.

SERI Glaucoma Research Group

The SERI Glaucoma Research group focuses on angle closure glaucoma, a major cause of blindness in Asia. Major studies underway include multi-centre RCTs on the use of prophylactic laser iridotomy in preventing angle closure glaucoma, the role of iridoplasty for chronic angle closure glaucoma and surgical trials for glaucoma. Other projects include new imaging instruments, wound healing and anti-scarring therapy, ocular drug delivery and neuroprotection. Genetic studies relevant to glaucoma are also being conducted.

SERI Ophthalmic Genetic Research Group

Ophthalmic genetic research is focused on understanding the genetic basis and biochemical mechanisms of primary angle closure glaucoma, corneal dystrophies and inherited photoreceptor degenerations (IPDs) such as Retinitis Pigmentosa. One main area of interest is to understand the disease mechanism(s) associated with the gene SLC4A11, which causes two types of corneal endothelial dystrophies i.e. congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED) and Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FECD).

SERI Wound Healing Research Group

The Wound Healing laboratory centres on cellular and clinical aspects of the ocular wound healing process, which is a major cause of visual disability and failure of ophthalmic surgical procedures. A key focus of the research is in the understanding of cellular mechanisms and modulation of target molecules in the post-operative scarring response following corneal and refractive surgery, and glaucoma filtering surgeries. The use of animal models of conjunctival and corneal wound healing together with specific gene knock-out mice facilitate the exploration of biological responses to manipulation of the wound healing process. Novel anti-scarring strategies are currently being explored and developed to replace current therapies.

SERI Infections and Ocular Surface Inflammation Research Group

Inflammatory sequelae of the ocular surface following infectious disease or from chronic conditions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome or ocular allergy take a toll in the work place and in human suffering. This multidisciplinary group at SERI includes clinical perspectives with patient material and molecular studies of inflammatory mediators which also use animal models. Chronic inflammation is associated with some of the tissue changes leading to corneal blindness which in Asia is a major health problem. This group of clinicians and translational scientists are working at the forefront in ocular surface disease issues in Asia, and in corneal blindness. Both proteomics and molecular studies of innate immunity are underway. Understanding the details of the response as to the interaction with local and systemic immunity may prevent prolonged inflammatory sequelae and also the basis for greater disease prevention by augmenting the innate immune system. New therapeutics are being developed and tested in both in vitro and in vivo models of disease to combat infectious disease and inflammation of the eye.

SERI Research Areas of Focus

SERI has identified specific eye diseases which are relevant to Singapore and Asia , and our resources are prioritized to these areas. Clinical trials and translational research are conducted in the following fields:

  • Pterygium
  • Pharmaceutical and ocular drug delivery
  • New refractive surgery treatments
  • Retinal vascular diseases
  • Stem cell biology and clinical transplantation
  • Tissue engineering
  • Visual psychophysics studies
  • Cataract
  • Corneal transplantation
  • Diabetic eye disease
  • Glaucoma
  • Myopia
  • Ocular drug delivery devices
  • Ocular surface disease
  • Ocular wound healing
With the development of these major areas of research, which lie at the cutting edge of the biological life-sciences, SERI intends to continue expanding its major role in ophthalmic research in the Asia-Pacific, to be a centre of international excellence in vision research and be at the forefront of new discoveries in the field of vision sciences.