When people ask me what life in the laboratory is really like, I often pause. On one hand, it is the romantic notion of pushing back the boundaries of science with the daily rhythm of experiments, data and easily obtained grant funding. On the other, it is a much more challenging role, balancing increasing teaching loads and admin so that we can enjoy the unpredictable journey of research that is full of excitement, obstacles, and the satisfaction of mentoring the next generation.
The lab is more than a physical space; it’s a dynamic environment where ideas evolve, cells grow (or don’t) and collaborations flourish. As a senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool, my work now sits at the intersection of cell biology, ophthalmology and regenerative medicine.
How did I get here?
Well, after my biology degree and a MSc in the pathophysiology of glaucoma filtration surgery wound healing, I was lucky to continue my PhD studies in ophthalmology research. The project embarked on the complications of wound healing observed in proliferative vitreoretinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. As my project involved analysing both surgical specimens and establishing cell culture models, I spent invaluable time at the clinical-academia interface which cemented my enthusiasm for translational research.
As the university department was in its infancy, I had to multitask many roles which have subsequently blossomed into key core facilities for the university. Those early times spent waiting for surgical specimens which allowed for engaging discussions with all the clinical teams has now grown to become the Liverpool Research Eye Bank. I’m now proudly the steering committee’s academic lead for this (not-for-profit) facility that is supplying invaluable samples (whole globes, fluids and biopsies) to our numerous research projects both now and in the future. But before I expand on the glaucoma research I’m involved with, it’s important to highlight the complimentary teaching and mentorship of students that is intertwined with our research aspirations.
Teaching, mentorship and the nature of research
One of the most rewarding aspects of academic life is the opportunity to teach and mentor students at all stages of their journey. Whether it’s undergraduate biologists and medical students, or PhD candidates from around the world, each brings a unique perspective and energy to the lab. Through lectures, tutorials and hands-on lab classes, I aim to make ophthalmology research accessible and engaging – planting seeds of curiosity that I hope will stay and grow with students’ future aspirations.
School event: PhD student Sami Amer showcasing research to visiting school pupils on how we use 3D printing in our research.
The lab-based projects I supervise – ranging from final-year undergraduate dissertations to MRes and PhD theses – offer students a chance to experience the realities of research. For many, it’s their first encounter with the unpredictability of experimental science. I encourage them to ask ambitious questions, develop technical skills and embrace the setbacks that inevitably come with discovery. Science is rarely a straight path: experiments fail, hypotheses collapse (yes, I’m being dramatic) and equipment breaks down. But these moments are formative. I teach students to see failure not as a dead end, but as a data point – an opportunity to refine their thinking and grow as researchers.
Our Masters course has become a popular choice for intercalating medical students, many of whom aspire to become the clinical academics we urgently need. It’s a privilege to help shape their early research experiences and support their development. There is nothing quite like seeing a student’s first authorship publication or presenting their work at international conferences – experiences that not only build confidence but also help them find their voice in the wider scientific community.
Behind every published dataset lies a story of persistence: repeated assays, troubleshooting and months of refinement. Laboratory science is expensive, time-consuming and rarely linear. Maintaining optimism in that environment requires resilience – not just from me, but from every member of the team. That’s why the culture we cultivate in the lab emphasises positivity, curiosity and the understanding that setbacks are part of the process. Watching students grow from cautious beginners into confident, independent researchers is one of the greatest privileges of my role and they are key to our current and future research.
Research focus: Glaucoma and the outflow pathway
Glaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. While current treatments focus on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), they do little to address the underlying pathology – particularly the dysfunction of the trabecular meshwork (TM). The TM is a specialised tissue responsible for regulating aqueous humour outflow, and its degeneration is a key contributor to elevated IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma. There is a pressing need for therapies that not only preserve TM function but actively repair or regenerate this critical structure.
Our lab has adopted a multidisciplinary approach to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying aqueous humour outflow and IOP regulation. While much of our work builds on the foundational discoveries of past academic giants, technological advances now allow us to explore the outflow pathway in unprecedented detail. Contrary to standard textbook depictions of passive drainage through a sieve-like TM, the reality is far more complex. The TM and Schlemm’s canal are dynamic, three-dimensional structures that respond to intra- and extraocular pressure changes, with cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions playing a central role in their functional competence.
To investigate these structures, we’ve been analysing histopathological changes in aged and glaucomatous donor tissues using advanced techniques. Multiplex immunohistochemistry and transcriptomic profiling enable us to map cellular changes across the lifespan and in disease. Micro CT imaging has provided detailed morphological assessments of cadaver tissue, generating 3D images and videos that offer unprecedented insight into the architectural changes associated with glaucoma. These datasets have also allowed us to recreate 3D models that better mimic both healthy and diseased TM architecture. Recognising the limitations of traditional 2D cell cultures, we’ve been developing 3D synthetic scaffolds using bioengineering techniques. These biomimetic constructs closely replicate the extracellular matrix (ECM) of human tissues and serve dual purposes: as potential implantation devices in glaucoma therapy and as platforms for in vitro disease modelling and drug development.
Figures showing (a) the anterior segment of porcine eye placed on a perfusion dish and (b) a diagram of the porcine anterior segment perfusion culture model. Arrows: directions of medium flow; arrowheads: TM.
Model: A 3D printed bioreactor for in vitro studies of cells cultured under defined pressure.
Scanning electron microscope images of a decellularised TM (dTM) from a healthy (HTM) and glaucomatous eye (GTM). The changed archeture to the matrix illustrating the lack of porosity in glaucomatous tissue.
Another major focus of our recent work is the development of cell-based strategies that target the TM directly, aiming to restore / prevent cell loss and its overall biomechanical and physiological properties. We have recently isolated and characterised TM progenitor cells with regenerative potential, culturing them within biomimetic extracellular matrices that promote survival, differentiation and integration. These cells have the potential to repopulate or repair those lost through the disease process, and we are now examining their behaviour under various controlled experimental conditions that replicate glaucomatous conditions. To better mimic real-world settings, we are developing custom-designed bioreactors that simulate the dynamic fluidic conditions of the anterior chamber, exposing TM cells to mechanical stress induced by pressure changes and comparing this with our perfused organ culture of human anterior chamber models. This allows us to study how these cells respond to the physical forces they would encounter in vivo.
Collaboration as a driver of discovery
One of the most exciting developments in recent years is the growing convergence between experimental research and clinical data. Advances in imaging, the use of patient-derived samples, and the expansion of clinical data platforms are now intersecting with multi-omic technologies – transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics – to offer a more holistic understanding of disease mechanisms. This integration is paving the way for a new era of clinically relevant biology, where insights from the lab are directly informed by patient data, and vice versa. It underscores the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in developing regenerative therapies that are not only scientifically robust but also translationally meaningful.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with colleagues across the UK and internationally. From chairing sessions at ophthalmology and regenerative medicine conferences to reviewing for leading journals and contributing to multi-institutional grants, these experiences have reinforced my belief that the best science happens when disciplines converge. No laboratory can exist in isolation. Collaborations with ophthalmologists, imaging specialists and scientists from diverse fields are essential – not only to ensure our research remains clinically grounded, but also to connect our findings to the patient journey. When insights from the bench translate into improvements in diagnosis, monitoring or therapy, the impact becomes tangible.
These partnerships also help sustain morale, especially during challenging periods marked by funding pressures or experimental setbacks. The shared vision and collective expertise of collaborative teams are what drive innovation forward – and they remind us that discovery is, at its core, a shared endeavour.
Looking ahead
Life in the laboratory is rarely easy. It demands persistence, creativity and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. It also requires resilience – to stay positive through repeated failures, long timelines and the ever-present pressure of funding. But it is also a privilege: to supervise and mentor, to discover and collaborate, and to contribute, in some small way, to the fight against glaucoma.
So, if I were to ask my younger self whether I was right to choose this career path, the answer would be a resounding yes and I’d tell him you won’t believe just how cool science gets. I still believe that by unpicking the complex biology of the outflow system, we are laying the foundations for therapies that can truly change lives. And that belief continues to drive everything we do.
Declaration of competing interests: None declared.
