Mr. Kevin Gregory-Evans. MD. PhD. FRCS. FRCOphth.

Reader in Molecular Ophthalmology,

Imperial College London,
Rm 408, 4th Floor, Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus,
London. W12 0NN

Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist,

Western Eye Hospital,
Marylebone Road, London. NW1 5YE.

SECRETARY: 07808-173994

Research Interests

1. CLINICAL TRIALS IN MACULAR DEGENERATION Macular degeneration is the commonest cause of blindness in the western World. We are developing links with a number of pharmaceutical companies to trial new treatments for macular degeneration (e.g. photodynamic therapy, intra-vitreal anti-VEGF therapies). In collaboration with Mr NV Chong (King’s College Hospital, London), we are also looking at links between the genetic defects underlying macular degeneration and systemic biomarkers so as to improve the matching of patients to treatments.

Illustration 1.Retina photographs of wet macular degeneration (A) treated with a three month course of Ranibizumab (B). Optical coherence tomography images of a pigment epithelial detachment (C) showing marked improvement with intravitreal pegaptanib (D).

2. CELL-BASED DRUG DELIVERY TO THE RETINA Drug delivery to the retina is difficult due to its inaccessibility (e.g. the blood-retina barrier prevents many drugs penetrating the retina). We are developing cell-based drug delivery techniques to allow for longer-term drug delivery and so avoid the need for repeated injections into the eye.

Illustration 2. Histological sections of embryonic stem cells (green, GFP-secreting) modified to over-secrete glial-dervied neurotrophic factor (inhibits cell death in the retina). (A-D) GDNF-ES cells integrating into the retina. (E) Flat mount of GDNF-ES cells attaching to retina surface. (F) Human ES cell culture.

3. MOLECULAR DEFECTS UNDERLYING RETINAL DISEASE Many of the commonest causes of retinal disease (e.g. macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa) arise from genetic abnormality. We continue to work on identifying the genes underlying retinal disease, as a means of developing better methods of diagnosis and more importantly to identify new therapeutic targets through a better understanding of disease pathogenesis.

Illustration 3. Retina photographs of inherited retinal diseases studied by the group. From left to right: Dominant drusen (FBLN3); North Carolina macular dystrophy (chromosome 6q); Cone-rod dystrophy (CRX); retinitis pigmentosa (PRP31); Sorsby fundus dystrophy (TIMP3); Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (LRP5).

Key Publications

 i.       Gregory-Evans K, Chang F, Hodges MD, Gregory-Evans CY. Ex vivo gene therapy using intravitreal injection of GDNF-secreting mouse embryonic stem cells in a rat model of retinal degeneration. Mol Vis. 2009;15:962-73.

ii.      Moosajee M, Gregory-Evans K, Ellis CD, Seabra MC, Gregory-Evans CY. Translational bypass of nonsense mutations in zebrafish rep1, pax2.1 and lamb1 highlights a viable therapeutic option for untreatable genetic eye disease. Hum Mol Genet. 2008;17:3987-4000.

iii.     Guerin K, Gregory-Evans CY, Hodges MD, Moosajee M, Mackay DS, Gregory-Evans K, Flannery JG.Systemic aminoglycoside treatment in rodent models of retinitis pigmentosa.  Exp Eye Res. 2008;87:197-207.

iv.     Gregory-Evans CY, Moosajee M, Hodges MD, Mackay DS, Game L, Vargesson N, Bloch-Zupan A, Ruschendorf F, Santos-Pinto L, Wackens G, Gregory-Evans K. SNP genome scanning localises oto-dental syndrome to chromosome 11q13 and microdeletions at this locus implicate FGF3 in dental and inner ear disease and FADD in ocular coloboma. Hum Mol Genet. 2007;16:2482-2493.

v.      Zaidi FH, Hull JT; Pierson SN, Wulff K, Aeschbach D, Gooley JJ, Brainard GC, Gregory-Evans K, Rizzo III JF, Czeisler CA, Foster RG, Moseley MJ, Lockley SW. Short-wavelength light sensitivity of circadian, pupillary and visual awareness in 'blind' humans lacking a functional outer retina. Current Biol. 2007; 17, 2122-2128.

GREGORY-EVANS' LAB 2007-2009

Left to right: Francis Chang (Research Assistant); Cheryl Gregory-Evans (Senior Lecturer); Kevin Gregory-Evans (Reader & Consultant Ophthalmologist); (David Blunkett MP, visiting); Mariya Moosajee (PhD student); Matt Hodges (Research Associate).

PAST & PRESENT LAB MEMBERS

Post-doctoral Fellows
1. Jim Bellingham (1998-2000)
2. Emma Tartellin (1999-2002)
3. Matt Hodges (1999-2002)
4. Matt Williams (2003-2005)
5. Donna Mackay (2005-2007)
6. Diana Hernandez (2005-2006)
7. Matt Hodges (2006-2008)
8. Francis Chang (2007-present)

MD/PhD students
1. Lindsey Bibb (awarded 2003)
2. Helena Vieira (awarded 2003)
3. James Blackburn (awarded 2004)
4. Julian Patterson (October 2005 - present)

Collaborations

Prof J. Flannery (Berkeley, USA) Prof R.Weleber (OHSU, USA); Mr NV Chong (King's College Hospital, London, UK); Dr L-S Jen (Imperial College London, UK); Prof L. Santos-Pinto (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Dr CY Gregory-Evans (Imperial College London)

External Research Funding 1998-2009

The Wellcome Trust
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Crystal Family Trust
Birth Defects Foundation
British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society

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