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Research title: Characteristics of ocular surface immune cells in dry eye disease of various sub-types

Supervisor: Scientia Professor Fiona Stapleton

Co-supervisors: Associate Professor Blanka Golebiowski, Professor Isabelle Jalbert

Research Abstract

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the ocular surface. It is often symptomatic and chronic in nature and has a significant impact on day-to-day quality of life. Altered tear homeostasis leads to an increase in tear osmolarity and a host of changes in the ocular surface microenvironment include those related to inflammation.

The immune system plays a major role in DED pathogenesis. It contributes to the severity of ocular surface inflammation. An increased levels of tear cytokines, chemokines and recruitment of pro-inflammatory cells, activation of antigen presenting cells (APC’s) – dendritic cells (DC’s), macrophages and B lymphocytes all plays a central role in DED pathogenesis. The APC’s plays major role in stimulating the innate and adaptive immune responses.

In-vivo confocal bio-microscopy (IVCM) is widely used to examine corneal and conjunctival structures, their epithelial cells, sub-basal nerves, and various other inflammatory cells such as DC’s.

With the help of IVCM, previous studies have shown an increase infiltration of dendritic cells and macrophages secondary to desiccating stress in various forms of dry eye. Neurosensory abnormalities such as decreased nerve density, number and length of corneal nerves has also been observed in dry eye patients. It is evident from these studies that central corneal DC density, DC size, DC dendrites and DC field were increased more in dry eye associated with Sjogren’s syndrome than non-Sjogren’s dry eye.

At present the literature is limited on the understanding of immune cells in healthy and in various ocular surface pathologies. The immunopathogenesis of DED is yet to be understood in detail.

Understanding the immune response will help to differentiate normal and diseased eyes and also identifying early and pre-clinical disease states. This can help in modifying treatment algorithms such as initiation of immuno-modulators and development of more target specific drugs.

The project aim to investigate the ocular surface immune response in DED of various severities and subtypes, and the effect of therapeutic intervention on ocular surface DC’s.

Biography

Soumen Sadhu, is an Optometrist, who holds a Master of Optometry degree from the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai India. In 2016, he earned his bachelor's degree in optometry from West Bengal University of Technology, India. After receiving his master's degree, he spent two years working as a clinical and research optometrist at Sankara Nethralaya in India.

He has keen interests in ocular surface disorders and has experience in diagnosing and managing corneal ectatic conditions, infections, investigating cases related to autoimmune and collagen vascular diseases like dry eyes, ocular cicatrical pemphigoid, peripheral corneal ulcers and uveitis. Additionally, he is knowledgeable on the fitting of specialised contact lenses for treating ocular surface disorders. He has several peer-reviewed publications at international journals.

In 2023, he has obtained the University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA) scholarship from UNSW to undertake a PhD in optometry. His PhD project is to understand the ocular surface immune response in dry eye disease.

Education

2023- Present - Ph.D. student in Optometry at University of New South Wales, Australia

2021- Master of Optometry from The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, India

2016 – Bachelor’s in optometry from West Bengal University of Technology, NSHM Knowledge Camus, India

Conference attendance

1)���������� 2022: “India Vision Institute”- Eye health In A Changing World Optometry conference

2)���������� 2021: 19th Dr E Vaithilingam Memorial Scientific Session

3)���������� 2021: The 2^nd dr. rajeswari mahadevan memorial scientific session

4)���������� 2021: 19th Dr E Vaithilingam Memorial Scientific Session

5)���������� 2020: “India Vision Institute- Eye health In A Changing World – an International Virtual Conference and Trade Fair- - 2020”

6)���������� 2020: American Academy of Optometry (Academy at home Virtual meeting) annual meeting

7)���������� 2020: The Contact Lens and imaging symposium, Narayana Nethralaya, India

8)���������� 2019: The 26^th Indian Eye Research Group Meeting - ARVO-INDIA chapter (IERG-ARO-IC), Chennai, India

9)���������� 2019: The 3^rd Annual Conference of Society of Inflammation Research (SIRCON), Chennai, India

10)���� 2017: 2^nd�� World Congress of Optometry Conference- 2017 (WOC-2017), Hyderabad

Awards

University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA) - for Ph.D. Optometry by University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia - 2023

Best Oral Presentation Award - 2022: “India Vision Institute”- Eye health In A Changing World Optometry conference

Best Photography Award – 2021: 2^nd Rajeswari Mahadevan memorial scientific session

Affiliations and memberships

Fellow of American Academy of Optometry (FAAO)

Cornea & Contact Lens Society of Australia

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