A research team has been awarded significant funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to develop an innovative drug-device combination that aims to revolutionise how individual immune cells are monitored and treated in patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
This leading-edge project, combining advanced imaging technology and the established safety of an already licensed dye, has the potential to transform diagnosis, monitoring, and personalised treatment for patients with immune-related diseases.
The research, a joint endeavour between the NIHR Moorfields, UCLH and Birmingham Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, aims to harness the eye's transparency to study immune cell behaviour non-invasively. The retina, located at the back of the eye, provides an unparalleled window into blood vessels and nerve cells, offering vital insights into systemic diseases.
A primary focus of the project will be on patients with posterior uveitis, a severe form of ocular inflammation. This group of patients face significant long-term health risks, including a high likelihood of vision loss, due to the limitations of current diagnostic tools and methods for monitoring treatment.
If successful, this innovation will provide an unparalleled view of immune cells within living tissue, addressing a significant unmet need in clinical diagnostics. The technology could reduce delays in diagnosis, improve monitoring of treatment response, and accelerate the identification of disease remission. Beyond ocular diseases, this could benefit systemic conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as aid the development of next-generation immunotherapies.
Colin Chu, lead investigator and clinical academic ophthalmologist at UCL and Moorfields said: “The immune system plays a crucial role in nearly every known disease. However, imaging and tracking individual immune cells directly in patients remains a significant challenge. By overcoming this, we hope to unlock transformative advances relevant to many other systemic conditions, such as autoimmunity, infections and cardiovascular diseases.”
Lisa Hill, Associate Professor in Translational Neuroscience at University of Birmingham, researcher at the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre and a co-investigator said: "This initiative could fundamentally change how we understand and manage immune-related diseases. By enabling high-resolution, real-time imaging of immune cells, we are not only addressing a critical gap in ophthalmology but also opening doors to broader medical advancements."
Nina Musgrave from the patient advisory group for the study said: "In my experience of being a patient with Birdshot Uveitis, a rare autoimmune eye condition, diagnosis can take several years. Once diagnosed, identifying the appropriate treatment for each individual patient often becomes a long and challenging experience, significantly affecting both mental and physical health. On hearing about this extremely exciting piece of research and speaking on behalf of my peers and fellow patients, I am absolutely delighted to be supporting the team on this important research initiative which will really make a difference and help improve the quality of life of patients with my condition."
Following the clinical study, the team aims to share results with NHS hospitals and international specialists, paving the way for widespread adoption. The potential to provide early, precise insights into immune cell activity could reduce healthcare costs while improving outcomes for patients.
This funding empowers the research team to push boundaries with the teams across London and Birmingham driving forwards to develop meaningful outcomes for patients, improving lives and advancing innovation in healthcare.
For enquiries into this story, please contact Helen Khan (h.khan@ucl.ac.uk).
