A potential next-generation treatment for diabetic retinopathy
Dr Michael O’Hare and his research team at Queen’s University Belfast are exploring how messenger RNA (mRNA) technology could be used to develop new treatments for diabetic retinopathy. This approach aims to target the underlying causes of the disease and offer new hope to patients who do not respond to existing therapies.
Dr Michael O’Hare
Role: Principal Investigator and Researcher
Institution: Queen’s University Belfast
Project name: Developing mRNA-based therapeutics for diabetic retinopathy
Project type: Research Award
Project status: Ongoing
Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision loss, affecting millions of people with diabetes. It damages blood vessels in the back of the eye, leading to leaks, scarring and abnormal growth that can result in sight loss and in severe cases, blindness. While treatments such as anti-VEGF injections are available, they do not work for everyone which leaves some patients with limited options. With support from Newmedica and Sight Research UK, Dr Michael O’Hare is exploring new ways to treat diabetic retinopathy. He says,
“Our aim is to develop mRNA-encoded therapeutics for patients who do not respond to existing treatments for diabetic retinopathy.”
Joined by a team of researchers, Dr Michael O’Hare is investigating a new approach using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to target the underlying causes of the disease. The work focuses on a protein called RUNX1, which appears to be unusually active in people with diabetic retinopathy and may play a role in resistance to current treatments. The team will also compare two different delivery methods to find the safest and most effective way to reach cells in the back of the eye. If successful, this research could lead to the development of a next-generation treatment and provide a vital alternative for patients who have not responded well to anti-VEGF therapies. Dr O’ Hare follows:
“We are extremely grateful for the support and funding from Newmedica and Sight Research UK, which is helping us to develop next-generation mRNA-encoded therapeutics and novel delivery systems that have potential not only for diabetic retinopathy, but for other ocular diseases as well.”
