Neuroscience and Ophthalmology - University of Birmingham

Our group has dedicated academic clinicians and scientists working collectively with a strong translational focus. Neurotrauma, a significant cause of death and disability worldwide, is closely integrated with ophthalmology, evidenced by overlapping and collaborative research interests in inflammation, scarring, regeneration and repair, in particular corneal scarring (a major cause of worldwide blindness) and intraocular inflammation (uveitis).

Our theme leads

Professor Zubair Ahmed

Professor of Neuroscience

Dr Valentina Di Pietro

Associate Professor of Neurotrauma

Key objectives

Aims of our research

To discover the molecular mechanisms underpinning neurotraumatic conditions such as spinal cord, brain and eye injury
To discover the molecule mechanisms underpinning neurodegenerative diseases
To develop novel strategies, tools, diagnostics and technologies relevant to neurotrauma including inflammation, scarring, regeneration and repair. As well as the clinical consequences arising from Neurotrauma and disease, e.g. neurodegeneration.
To prevent corneal scarring from infectious and non-infectious causes by the therapeutic-targeting of wound healing and tissue regeneration leading to functional rehabilitation with restoration and preservation of sight.
To understand the regulation of ocular immunity, particularly in ocular surface disease and intraocular inflammation by studying the complex interplay between immunogenetics, peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes and the role of the gut microbiome. This is achieved by having access to well defined cohorts of patients attending the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (an acknowledged Centre of Excellence) with inflammatory eye disease, including those with rare diseases, that serve as a basis for translational research.
To develop end points including objective measurements of ocular inflammatory disease activity and damage using imaging and core outcome sets of Patient Reported Outcomes thus allowing better assessment of therapeutic interventions.

Importantly, we aim not just to understand the mechanisms that underlie the loss of immune function or musculoskeletal health but to use this knowledge to develop interventions, both lifestyle and pharmacological, to improve health in older adults and trauma victims.