Staff Profile

Research Interests

Research Focus- Limbal stem cells

The cornea is the clear front of the eye and its clarity is vital for the transmission of light to the retina at the back of the eye for visual perception. The surface of the cornea is composed of an pithelium, and this is continuous with that of the surrounding conjunctiva. The transition between the corneal and conjunctival epithelia is formed by the limbal epithelium, and this harbours the stem cells for the corneal epithelium, the so-called limbal stem cells.

Limbal stem cell deficiency is an ocular surface disease characterised by the loss or dysfunction of limbal stem cells. It results from a variety of causes, including hemical and thermal burns to the eye, contact lens related eye disease, hereditary diseases (such as aniridia and ectodermal dysplasia), and inflammatory diseases
(such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid).

The major research areas for the limbal stem cell project are:

1. Identification of limbal stem cell markers – To date there are no known specific limbal stem cell markers. A major component of the project involves the investigation of new limbal stem cell markers, especially those which can be found on the cell surface.

2. Investigation of the limbal stem cell microenvironment – The environment which supports limbal stem cell survival is also being investigated. This can give important clues about the signalling mechanisms which maintain the limbal stem cells. This will not only aid in the identification of new limbal stem cell markers, but may enable the development of new growth promoting strategies for limbal stem cells.

3. Culture of limbal stem cells – A major new treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency is the culture and expansion of limbal stem cells for the purposes of transplantation in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. This area of research forms another major component to the project. The cells will be grown in animal
free conditions under Good Manufacturing Practice specifically for therapeutic purposes.

4. Transplantation of limbal stem cells – The main aim of the project is the identification of new treatment strategies for limbal stem cell deficiency. These include the transplantation of expanded limbal stem cells and the use of growth promoters to expand any surviving limbal stem cells. These new treatments are currently being investigated in the form of a clinical trial sponsored by the MRC UK.

This is a collaborative effort between Prof Majlinda Lako and myself.

• Baudouin C, Irkec M, Messmer EM, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Bonini S, Figueiredo FC, Geerling G, Labetoulle M, Lemp M, Rolando M, Van Setten G, Aragona P. Clinical impact of inflammation in dry eye disease: Proceedings of the ODISSEY group meeting. Acta Ophthalmologica 2017, epub ahead of print.
• Dumusc A, Ng W-F, James K, Griffiths B, Price E, Pease CT, Emery P, Lanyon P, Jones A, Bombardieri M, Sutcliffe N, Pitzalis C, Gupta M, McLaren J, Cooper A, Giles I, Isenberg D, Saravanan V, Coady D, Dasgupta B, McHugh N, Young-Min S, Moots RJ, Gendi N, Akil M, Barone F, Fisher BA, Rauz S, Richards A, Bowman SJ, Frankland H, Mediana A, Chadravarty K, Lamabadusuriya S, Adeniba R, Hamburger J, Higham J, Poveda-Galego A, Logan J, Mulherin D, Andrews J, McManus A, Booth A, Regan M, Dimitroulas T, Kadiki L, Kaur D, Kitas G, Lloyd M, Moore L, Gordon E, Lawson C, Hunter J, Stirton L, Ortiz G, Clunie G, Rose G, Cuckow S, Knight S, Symmons D, Jones B, Carr A, Edgar S, Carrozzo M, Figueiredo F, Foggo H, Gillespie C, Hindmarsh V, Lendrem D, Macleod I, Mitchell S, Tarn J, Muir A, White P, Pugmire S, Watkins M, Field A, Kaye S, Mewar D, Medcalf P, Tomlinson P, Whiteside D, Pauling J, James J, Olaitan N, McDermott J, Godia O, Kidd E, Palmer L, Katsande V, Long P, Chandra U, MacKay K, Fedele S, Ferenkeh-Koroma A, Marconnell H, Porter S, Brailsford S, Allcoat P. Comparison of ESSDAI and ClinESSDAI in potential optimisation of trial outcomes in primary Sjögren's syndrome: Examination of data from the UK Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Registry. Swiss Medical Weekly 2018, 148, w14588.
• Ting DSJ, Figueiredo GS, Henein C, Barnes E, Ahmed O, Mudhar HS, Figueiredo FC. Corneal Neurotization for Neurotrophic Keratopathy: Clinical Outcomes and In Vivo Confocal Microscopic and Histopathological Findings. Cornea 2018, 37(5), 641-646.
• Kamarudin TA, Bojic S, Collin J, Yu M, Alharthi S, Buck H, Shortt A, Armstrong L, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. Differences in the activity of endogenous BMP signalling impact on the ability of induced pluripotent stem cells to differentiate to corneal epithelial like cells. Stem Cells 2018, 36(3), 337-348.
• Okonkwo ACO, Siah WF, Hogg HDJ, Anwar H, Figueiredo FC. Microbial keratitis in corneal grafts: Predisposing factors and outcomes. Eye 2018, 32(4), 775-781.
• Dua HS, Said DG, Messmer EM, Rolando M, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM, Hossain PN, Shortt AJ, Gerling G, Nubile M, Figueiredo FC, Rauz S, Mastropasqua L, Rama P, Baudouin C. Neurotrophic keratopathy. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 2018, 66, 107-131.
• Figueiredo GS, Salvador CB, Baylis O, Hardeep M, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. Outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty following autologous cultivated limbal epithelial stem cell transplantation. Stem Cells 2018, 36(6), 925-931.
• Baudouin C, Figueiredo FC, Messmer EM, Ismail D, Amrane M, Garrigue J-S, Bonini S, Leonardi A. A randomized study of the efficacy and safety of 0.1% cyclosporine a cationic emulsion in treatment of moderate to severe dry eye. European Journal of Ophthalmology 2017, 27(5), 520-530.
• Leonardi A, Van Setten G, Amrane M, Ismail D, Garrigue J-S, Figueiredo FC, Baudouin C. Author’s reply to: “concerns over: Efficacy and safety of 0.1% cyclosporine a cationic emulsion in the treatment of severe dry eye disease”. European Journal of Ophthalmology 2017, 27(6), e194-e195.
• Figueiredo GS, De Havilland JR, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. Cell Therapy in Practice. In: Connon CJ, ed. Bioprocessing for Cell Based Therapies. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2017, pp.211-236.
• Westekemper H, Figueiredo FC, Siah WF, Wagner N, Steuhl K-P, Meller D. Clinical outcomes of amniotic membrane transplantation in the management of acute ocular chemical injury. British Journal of Ophthalmology 2017, 101(2), 103-107.
• Miotto M, Gouveia R, Abidin FZ, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. Developing a Continuous Bioprocessing Approach to Stromal Cell Manufacture. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 2017, 9(47), 41131-41142.
• Miotto M, Gouveia R, Abidin FZ, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. Developing a Continuous Bioprocessing Approach to Stromal Cell Manufacture. Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017, 9(47), 41131-41142.
• Figueiredo GS, Bojic S, Rooney P, Wilshaw SP, Connon CJ, Gouveaia RM, Patterson C, Lepert G, Mudhar HS, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. Gamma-irradiated human amniotic membrane decellularised with sodium dodecylsulfate is a more efficient substrate for the ex vivo expansion of limbal stem cells. Acta Biomaterialia 2017, 61, 124-133.
• Gouveia RM, Koudouna E, Jester J, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. Template Curvature Influences Cell Alignment to Create Improved Human Corneal Tissue Equivalents. Advanced Biosystems 2017, 1(12), 1700135.
• Okonkwo ACO, Hogg HDJ, Figueiredo FC. An 8-year longitudinal analysis of UK ophthalmic publication rates. Eye 2016, 30(11), 1433-1438.
• Yu M, Bojic S, Figueiredo GS, Rooney P, deHavilland J, Dickinson A, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. An important role for adenine, cholera toxin, hydrocortisone and triiodothyronine inthe proliferation, self-renewal and differentiation of limbal stem cells in vitro. Experimental Eye Research 2016, 152, 113-122.
• Ting DSJ, Potts J, Jones M, Lawther T, Armitage WJ, Figueiredo FC. Changing trend in the utilisation rate of donated corneas for keratoplasty in the UK: The North East England Study. Eye 2016, 30(11), 1475-1480.
• Leonardi A, Van Setten G, Amrane M, Ismail D, Garrigue J-S, Figueiredo FC, Baudouin C. Efficacy and safety of 0.1% cyclosporine A cationic emulsion in the treatment of severe dry eye disease: A multicenter randomized trial. European Journal of Ophthalmology 2016, 26(4), 287-296.
• Ting DSJ, Potts J, Jones M, Lawther T, Armitage WJ, Figueiredo FC. Impact of telephone consent and potential for eye donation in the UK: the Newcastle Eye Centre study. Eye 2016, 30(3), 342-348.
• Hogg J, Okonkwo A, Narayanan M, Siah WF, Figueiredo FC. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Keratitis - A Case Series of a Rare Form of Keratitis. In: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting. 2015, Denver, CO: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Johnson ZK, Narayanan M, Siah WF, Anwar H, Figueiredo FC. An analysis of the incidence, management, clinical outcomes and risk factors of Acanthamoeba keratitis infections in a tertiary hospital in the UK over the last 5 years. In: ARVO 2015 Annual Meeting. 2015, Denver, Colorado: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Purslow C, Patel D, Sykakis E, Williams C, Payne M, Figueiredo FC. Demodex infestation in patients with blepharitis unresponsive to conventional therapy. In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology 2015 (ARVO 2015). 2015, Denver, Colorado, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Okonkwo A, Hogg J, Anwar H, Siah WF, Figueiredo FC. Microbial Keratitis Outcome in Corneal Grafts. In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). 2015, Denver, CO: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Figueiredo GS, Lako M, Ali S, Figueiredo FC. Molecular analysis of inflammation in pannus tissue from patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency by quantitative real time PCR. In: MCLOSA 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting. 2015, London, UK: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Figueiredo FC, Lako M, Baylis O, Pesudovs K, Figueiredo G. Patient reported outcomes before and following ex vivo cultured autologous limbal stem cell transplantation for total unilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. In: ARVO 2015 Annual Meeting. 2015, Denver, CO: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Figueiredo GSM, Jones MNA, Krishna Y, Figueiredo FCD, Larkin DFP, Kaye SB. Transplant rejection following endothelial keratoplasty and penetrating keratoplasty in the United Kingdom: Incidence and survival. American Journal of Ophthalmology 2015, 160(3), 416-421.
• Craig JA, Mahon J, Yellowlees A, Barata T, Glanville J, Arber M, Mandava L, Powell J, Figueiredo F. Epithelium-Off Photochemical Corneal Collagen Cross-Linkage Using Riboflavin and Ultraviolet A for Keratoconus and Keratectasia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Ocular Surface 2014, 12(3), 202-214.
• Figueiredo FC, Kolli S, Ahmad S, Lako M. Long-term outcomes of ex vivo expanded limbal stem cell transplantation in humans. In: 20th Annual ISCT Meeting. 2014, Paris, France: Elsevier.
• Kolli S, Ahmad S, Mudhar HS, Meeny A, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. Successful Application of Ex Vivo Expanded Human Autologous Oral Mucosal Epithelium for the Treatment of Total Bilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. Stem Cells 2014, 32(8), 2135-2146.
• Lako M, Kolli S, Ahmad S, Mudhar HS, Meeny A, Figueiredo F. Successful culture and characterisation of ex vivo expanded human autologous oral mucosa epithelium using a feeder- and animal product- free method for the treatment of total bilateral limbal stem cell deficiency. In: 20th Annual ISCT Meeting. 2014, Paris, France: Elsevier.
• Baylis O, Rooney P, Figueiredo F, Lako M, Ahmad S. An investigation of donor and culture parameters which influence epithelial outgrowths from cultured human cadaveric limbal explants. Journal of Cellular Physiology 2013, 228(5), 1025-1030.
• Dickinson A, Lako M, Kolli S, Figueiredo FC. Outcomes of ex vivo expanded limbal stem cell transplantation in humans. In: 19th ISCT Annual Meeting. 2013, Auckland, New Zealand: Informa Healthcare.
• Osei-Bempong C, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. The limbal epithelium of the eye A review of limbal stem cell biology, disease and treatment. BioEssays 2013, 35(3), 211-219.
• Figueiredo GS, Kolli SSP, Ahmad S, Gales K, Figueiredo FC. Urrets-Zavalia syndrome following penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus. Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2013, 251(3), 809-815.
• Sandhu SS, Smith JM, Doherty M, James A, Figueiredo FC. Do topical ophthalmic corticosteroids suppress the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal axis in post-penetrating keratoplasty patients?. Eye 2012, 26(5), 699-702.
• Carr AJ, Ng WF, Figueiredo F, Macleod RI, Greenwood M, Staines K. Sjogren's syndrome - an update for dental practitioners. British Dental Journal 2012, 213(7), 353-357.
• Baylis O, Figueiredo F, Henein C, Lako M, Ahmad S. 13 Years of Cultured Limbal Epithelial Cell Therapy: A Review of the Outcomes. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 2011, 112(4), 993-1002.
• Kaye S, Tuft S, Neal T, Tole D, Leeming J, Figueiredo F, Armstrong M, McDonnell P, Tullo A, Parry C. Bacterial Susceptibility to Topical Antimicrobials and Clinical Outcome in Bacterial Keratitis. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2010, 51(1), 362-368.
• Kolli S, Ahmad S, Lako M, Figueiredo F. Successful Clinical Implementation of Corneal Epithelial Stem Cell Therapy for Treatment of Unilateral Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency. Stem Cells 2010, 28(3), 597-610.
• Ahmad S, Figueiredo F, Lako M. Corneal epithelial stem cells: characterization, culture and transplantation. Regenerative Medicine 2006, 1(1), 29-44.
• Koay PYP, Lee WH, Figueiredo FC. Opinions on risk factors and management of corneal graft rejection in the United Kingdom. Cornea 2005, 24(3), 292-296.
• Ahmad S, Hyslop LA, Jahoda CA, Strachan T, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. From embryo to eye - Human embryonic stem cell markers OCT-4 and NANOG are localised to adult limbal epithelium. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2004, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Figueiredo FC, Hodge R, Figueiredo MS, Johnson R. Newcastle corneal transplant registry: Five-year clinical outcomes. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2004, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Parry PA, Teale C, Irwin DE, Burk CT, Figueiredo MS, Figueiredo FC. The clinical and quality of life outcomes of managing patients with keratoconjuctivitis sicca. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2004, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Figueirdo FC, Adams W. Analysis of outpatient clinic non-attendance in patients after corneal transplantion. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Sandhu SS, Ressiniotis T, Gnanaraj L, Figueiredo FC. Efficacy of silicone punctal plugs in the management of ocular surface disease. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: ssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Gnanaraj L, Sandhu S, Figueiredo FC. Post keratoplasty emergency visits - A prospective review of 100 consecutive visits. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Manvikar S, Figueiredo FC. Thygeson's superficial punctate keratitis: Topical cyclosporin A drops use in patients resistant to topical steriods. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• McDonald CC, Kaye SB, Figueiredo FC, Macintosh G, Lockett C. A randomised, crossover, multicentre study to compare the performance of 0.1% (w/v) sodium hyaluronate with 1.4% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol in the alleviation of symptoms associated with dry eye syndrome. Eye 2002, 16(5), 601-607.
• Figueiredo FC, Nicholls SM, Easty DL. Corneal epithelial rejection in the rat. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2002, 43(3), 729-736.
• Sandhu SS, Ashraff N, Chew K, McEleavy I, Harris M, Henderson P, James A, Figueiredo F. Do ophthalmic topical corticosteroids suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in post-keratoplasty patients?. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2002, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Lee WH, Gales K, McCarthy J, Grinfeld E, Figueiredo F. Progressive idiopathic unilateral corneal endotheliopathy - A new disease entity. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2002, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Figueiredo FC, Kaye SB, Lee WH, Gales K, Mallaiah U. Pterygium surgery: Outcomes using a free conjunctival autograft. In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2002, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Rao VJ, Gnanaraj L, Mitchell KW, Figueiredo FC. Clinical comparison of ocular blood flow tonometer, tonopen, and Goldmann applanation tonometer for measuring intraocular pressure in postkeratoplasty eyes. Cornea 2001, 20(8), 834-838.
• Lee W, Gales K, Wright M, Figueiredo F. Keratoconus in monozygotic twins - nature or nurture. In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2001, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Boyle NJ, Clarke MP, Figueiredo F. Reduced corneal sensation and severe dry eyes in a child with fetal valproate syndrome. Eye 2001, 15(5), 661-662.
• Meller D, Pires RTF, Mack RJS, Figueiredo F, Heiligenhaus A, Park WC, Prabhasawat P, John T, McLeod SD, Steuhl KP, Tseng SCG. Amniotic membrane transplantation for acute chemical or thermal burns. Ophthalmology 2000, 107(5), 980-989.
• Figueiredo FC, Koay PYP. Opinions on risk factors and treatment preferences for corneal graft rejection. In: INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE. 2000.
• Figueiredo FC, Pendergrast DGC, Zhang L, Easty DL, Nicholls SM. An improved method for examining the corneal endothelium during graft rejection in the rat. EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH 1998, 67(6), 625-630.