Professor Saaeha Rauz PhD, FRCOphth

• PhD Medicine 2002
• Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists 1995
• MB BS (Lond) 1990
• GMC Accredited Trainer (Named postgraduate clinical supervisor; Named postgraduate education supervisor; and Undergraduate trainer)

Teaching Programmes:

• Medicine and Surgery MBChB
• Medical Science BMedSc - Year 3

There is a specific interest in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

• Immune-mediated ocular surface diseases
• Progressive conjunctival scarring
• Corneal scarring
• Ocular infections
• Ocular surface inflammation and dry eye

If you are interesting in studying any of these subject areas please contact Professor Saaeha Rauz directly, or for any general doctoral research enquiries, please email mds-gradschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings.

The patient clinical cohort underpinning Professor Rauz’s research activities have immune-mediated ocular surface diseases or where the underlying aetiology is infection. Specific interests lie in interrogating:

• Drivers of ocular inflammation and scarring.
• Monitoring and measuring clinical and patient reported outcomes.
• Translating technologies (drugs and devices) that modify biological processes and responses.

The principal themes of research are:

1)  Persistence of Inflammation and Progressive Conjunctival Fibrosis:

Inflammation and scarring of the ocular mucosal surfaces are a group of rare conditions that provide particular challenges leading to disabling symptomatology and sight-loss. Progression of disease frequently occurs without manifest inflammation making clinical monitoring problematic.

With a focus on innovative targets, drug discovery, development and translation to the clinic, this research theme is redefining outcome measures (laboratory, clinical and patient-reported) through multiple scientific collaborations and engagement with patients, public and industry.

2) Corneal Scarring:

Corneal scarring is the most common cause of preventable worldwide blindness with the WHO reporting 8 million new cases of corneal blindness per annum.  Multidisciplinary collaborations across Colleges, Institutes and International collaborations, the team of clinicians, immunologists, chemical engineers, pharmacologists, tissue regeneration experts and trialists, are evaluating technologies that modify biological processes linked to scar formation.  An optimal environment for corneal tissues to heal without scarring (thereby avoiding visually debilitating opacity) is key. Phase I/II clinical trials are anticipated in the near future.

3) Ocular Surface Disease and Patient Morbidity:

Patient and Public Involvement Groups, The Eye Drops Patient Focus Group and the British Sjögren’s Syndrome Association are driving research into unmet need for better therapies for persistent debilitating ocular dryness and corneal neuropathic pain. Over 20% of the population has some element of dry eye symptomatology which time to trade of analyses have shown to be as disabling as severe angina or renal dialysis 3x/week. In partnership with the Healthcare Technologies Institute, the group has developed patented technologies that have the ability to protect and repair the eye, deliver essential nutrients to help recondition and restore the surface of the eye, and above all provide comfort, aiming to improve the quality of patient lives.

International

• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Core to Core Programme: International genome study-based elucidation of pathology and assembly of treatment strategy of the severe ocular surface disease
• International Ocular Surface Society: UK Board Member
• EULAR Sjögren’s Syndrome Task Force Group: Ophthalmology Member
• Associate Editor for BMJ Ophthalmology Open (BMJ publishing group)
• Associate Editor for ‘Eye’ (Nature Springer publishing group)

National

• NHS England / Department of Health Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Ear and Ophthalmology Services
• NHS England / National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Cross-working Group
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists FRCOphth Part 1 Examinations Subcommittee
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists Scientific Committee
• Royal College of Ophthalmologists Continuing Professional Development Sub-Committee and West Midlands Coordinator
• James Lind Alliance for the Treatment of Pemphigus and Pemphigoid

Regional

• Health Education England West Midlands Postgraduate School of Ophthalmology Academic Lead
• Health Education England West Midlands Postgraduate School of Ophthalmology Study and Assessment Lead
• Member of the Regional Speciality Advisory Appointments Committee

Patient Groups and Charities

• British Sjögren’s Syndrome Association – Ophthalmology Medical Member
• Roper-Hall Eye Foundation - Medical Trustee
• Eye Drops Patient Focus Group – Clinical Lead