New research aims to transform immune cell imaging with innovative drug-device combination
Birmingham researchers are supporting a pioneering project to transform immune disease diagnosis and treatment using advanced eye imaging technology.
Birmingham researchers are supporting a pioneering project to transform immune disease diagnosis and treatment using advanced eye imaging technology.
A ground-breaking research collaboration involving the University of Birmingham has received major funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to develop a pioneering drug-device combination that could transform how immune cells are tracked and treated in patients.
The project, which is a collaboration between the NIHR Moorfields, UCLH, Birmingham Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, will harness cutting-edge imaging and an already-licenced dye to deliver unprecedented insights into immune cell activity for patients with immune-related diseases.
The study will initially focus on posterior uveitis, a serious inflammatory eye condition that carries a high risk of vision loss due to current diagnostic limitations. The retina, located at the back of the eye, offers a unique and transparent view into blood vessels and nerve cells, making it an ideal target for non-invasive observation of immune system activity.
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.
Dr 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.”
If successful, the research could provide clinicians with a powerful new tool to diagnose and monitor immune-related conditions earlier and more accurately. In addition to improving outcomes for patients with ocular conditions, the technology has wider potential applications in systemic diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as in the development of next-generation immunotherapies.
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.
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 plans to share their findings with NHS hospitals and global partners, with the aim of making the innovation widely available. The project represents a powerful example of interdisciplinary research driving forward health innovation — with researchers in Birmingham and London working together to make a lasting difference to patients’ lives.
About the University of Birmingham
About the NIHR
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK international development funding from the UK government.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre translates new scientific discoveries into treatments and diagnostics to improve people’s health in the UK and across the globe. We focus on inflammation, a common feature of many diseases, and work to improve its diagnosis, prevention and treatment. We are part of the NIHR and hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Birmingham.
About NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
NIHR Moorfields BRC is an internationally renowned partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, ranked number one in the world for ophthalmology research. The BRC was first established in April 2007 and is now in the fourth five-year term to support research designed to take advances in basic medical research from the laboratory to the clinic. The centre’s broad spectrum of research into eye disease enables patients to benefit more quickly from world-class scientific breakthroughs, treatments and diagnostics, and has demonstrated a wider reach into other health conditions through digital technology and advanced therapies. For further information, please visit www.moorfieldsbrc.nihr.ac.uk/
About UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO)
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO) is one of several specialised research centres within UCL (University College London) and is, together with Moorfields Eye Hospital, one of the leading centres for eye research worldwide. The combination of the institute’s research with the resources of Moorfields Eye Hospital opens the way for advances at the forefront of vision research. Close collaboration with other academic partners and with industry extends its impact. The institute has been named as the best place to study ophthalmology in the 2017 Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR). For further information, please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo. Follow @ucleye on X.