The University of British Columbia

Lab Office: 604-875-5275
Fax: 604-875-4663
Email: kge30@eyecarecentre.org; kge30@interchange.ubc.ca
Clinical secretary: 778-968-4349; gregoryevanseyes@gmail.com

 

Previous Appointments

1998-2009		Reader in Molecular Ophthalmology Imperial College London, London. UK
1997-1998		JW Kluge Research Fellow, (Foundation Fighting Blindness USA) Professor R Weleber, Casey Eye Institute, Portland, OR, USA.
1995-1997		Senior Registrar in Ophthalmology Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
1994-1995		Clinical Research Fellow, (Medical Research Council, UK) Professor AC Bird, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Novel molecular approaches in the treatment of retinal disease

In recent years a wealth of new information has become available on the causes of such retinal diseases as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa. This has generated an ideal environment to study new, molecular approaches to treating common retinal diseases. Additionally by combining treatments, potential synergies can be studied - more effective outcomes might be achieved by concurrently targeting multiple points of the pathogenic pathway. In a team approach using rodent, zebrafish and xenopus model systems, we are investigating such synergistic combination therapies, to correcting retinal cell apoptosis, protein misfolding and inflammation.

Cell-based therapeutics for age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa

Cells can be used in two ways to repair damaged retina: to replace lost cells (tissue regeneration) or as vehicles to deliver drugs to the retina (a difficult undertaking because of the retina's relative inaccessibility (e.g. the blood brain 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.

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.

 

 

Clinical trial in retinal disease

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 matching of patients to treatments.

KEY PUBLICATIONS

1. Yanai A, Häfeli UO, Metcalfe AL, Soema P, Addo L, Gregory-Evans CY, Po K, Shan X,
   Moritz OL, Gregory-Evans K . Focused magnetic stem cell targeting to the retina using
   superparamagnetic iron oxidenanoparticles. Cell Transplantation 2012; 21:1137-1148.
2. Gregory-Evans K, Po K, Chang F, Gregory-Evans CY. Pharmacological enhancement of
   ex vivo gene therapy neuroprotection in a rodent model of retinal degeneration.
   Ophthalmic Research 2011;47:32-38.
3. 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. Molecular Vision 2009; 15:962-73.
4. 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 Biology 2007; 17, 2122-2128.
5. Gregory-Evans CY, Moosajee M, Hodges MD, Mackay DS, Game L, Vargesson N,
   Bloch-Zupan A, Rüschendorf F, Santos-Pinto L, Wackens G, Gregory-Evans K. SNP
   genome scanning localizes oto-dental syndrome to chromosome 11q13 and
   microdeletions at this locus implicate FGF3 in dental and inner-ear disease and FADD
   in ocular coloboma. Human Molecular Genetics 2007;16:2482-93.

EXTERNAL RESEARCH FUNDING 1998-2011

Canadian Institutes of Health Research
The Wellcome Trust
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Crystal Family Trust
Birth Defects Foundation
British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society