Mr Matyas Kutnyanszky

(he/him)

BSc (Hons) MSc

Publication

• Date
• Type

Research

My project is centred around using Extracellular Vesicles (EV) as a new treatment for Glaucoma, a common disease of the eye where the Retinal Ganglion Cells (RGCs) responsible for connecting the eye with the brain slowly die. EVs are tiny lipid particles produced by all cells in the body. They help them communicate with each other by delivering small molecules that change how the recipient cell behaves. Different cells produce different EVs and some can stop RGCs from dying or may even make them regenerate the damaged connection between the eye and the brain. My goal is to find EVs with such protective capabilities and use them as a treatment that would stop people suffering from glaucoma from losing their sight.

Thesis

Exosomes as a Therapy for Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide with the number of people affected predicted to be on the rise. Its pathogenesis involves the slow and progressive death of retinal ganglion cells (RGC), whose axons project into the brain making up the optic nerve, leading to a gradual loss of vision. As of today, no definite cure exists for the disease, with available treatments mainly focusing on slowing down its progression. Extracellular Vesicles (EV) are small lipid particles released from every cell of the body that participate in cell-to-cell communication by delivering proteins, nucleic acids, and other substances, with the exact composition of cargo influenced by the cell of origin and external stimuli. Recently, interest in these nanoparticles has been on the rise, owning to their potential to preserve dying RGCs. The project discussed here is centred on investigating the potential use of a subcategory of EVs called Exosomes, isolating them from various kinds of cells and evaluating their effectiveness in preserving RGC vitality and regenerating their lost axons. Eventually, this research may have the potential to create a foundation for the development of a new kind of therapeutic for the treatment of Glaucoma.

Funding sources

Glaucoma UK

Biography

• PhD Student at Cardiff University (current)
• Integrated Master in Biochemistry at the University of Surrey
• Summer internships at the Hungarian Academy of Natural Sciences, Biophysics and Enzymatology Research Group

Honours and awards

• Integrated Masters in Biochemistry (1st Class) - University of Surrey

Supervisors

Benjamin Mead

Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor)

Marcela Votruba

Professor and Hon. Consultant in Ophthalmology