In the future, patients with blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration might not have to endure frequent injections into their eyes.
Dr Ilva Rupenthal from The University of Auckland has been awarded an Emerging Researcher First Grant of $149,994 from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) to design a biodegradable and injectable implant for the eye that will slowly release drugs over a period of 6 to 12 months. The implant will need replacing only once or twice a year, and top-up doses of drugs can be released using non-invasive light activation through the cornea.
In addition to designing an injectable implant, Dr Rupenthal plans to develop efficient gene carriers that will protect the drugs from degrading and improve their penetration into the retinal tissues and cellular uptake, thus reducing the effective dose required.
“Blinding diseases are currently treated by frequent injections of drug-containing solution into the eyeball, an unpleasant procedure that requires frequent specialist visits with demand currently exceeding supply,” says Dr Rupenthal.
“This [project] will minimise injection frequency and the need for specialist visits, decreasing the overall treatment costs, while significantly improving treatment efficacy and the quality of life of those affected by blinding diseases.”
The HRC has awarded 10 Emerging Researcher First Grants this year to support emerging researchers who are seeking to establish independent careers in health research.
“I’m very pleased that through these grants we can give the next generation of talented researchers the chance to lead their own research,” says the HRC’s Chief Executive Dr Robin Olds. “These young people are outstanding in their respective research fields, and with these grants they will be able to conduct research that will help improve the health and quality of life of all New Zealanders.”
Research into a promising new treatment for cancer that uses biological agents such as viruses to deliver enzymes to tumours has also received funding.
Dr Janine Copp from Victoria University of Wellington will receive $149,850 to engineer superior enzymes that “switch on” prodrugs that become potent DNA-damaging toxins within the tumour, but which are otherwise inert in human tissues.
“This research aims to discover and evolve novel enzymes that have superior activity and new delivery capabilities. Successful completion of this project would be a significant contribution to the field and potentially lead, in the longer term, to significant improvement in the outcomes for cancer patients,” says Dr Copp.
To view all the 2013 HRC Emerging Researcher First Grant recipients, see the list below or go to our research repository.
Emerging Researcher First Grants 2013
Mr Joseph Antoun, University of Otago, Dunedin
The genetics of dentofacial growth anomalies
36 months, $149,462
Telephone: (03) 479 7068
Dr Janine Copp, Victoria University of Wellington
Engineering superior nitroreductases for cancer gene therapy
36 months, $149,850
Telephone: (04) 463 5277
Dr Marianne Elston, The University of Auckland
Thyrotoxicosis: Assessment of ethnic differences in presentation and outcome
36 months, $150,000
Telephone: (07) 839 8899
Dr Taisia Huckle, Massey University, Auckland
Restricting the availability of alcohol to reduce alcohol-related harm in New Zealand
36 months, $149,363
Telephone: (09) 366 6136
Dr Patricia Neuwelt, The University of Auckland
'Acceptability' and access to primary care: The reception process
30 months, $148,730
Telephone: (09) 373 7599
Dr Suetonia Palmer, University of Otago, Christchurch
Making better clinical decisions to prevent kidney disease
24 months, $138,789
Telephone: (03) 364 0903
Dr Stephen Ritchie, The University of Auckland
Understanding nasal flora and prevention of Staphylococcus aureus disease
24 months, $148,824
Telephone: (09) 636 0287
Dr Ilva Rupenthal, The University of Auckland
Reducing the treatment burden of ocular diseases
24 months, $149,994
Telephone: (09) 923 86386
Dr Deborah Snell, Burwood Academy of Independent Living
Factors affecting recovery after mild traumatic brain injury
24 months, $142,532
Telephone: (03) 383 6871
Dr Jichao Zhao, The University of Auckland
Living with chaos: Structural remodelling and persistent atrial fibrillation
36 months, $133,600
Telephone: (09) 373 7599