Guest lecture: Targeting neuro-inflammation for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases
On June 15th 2016, Francisco Ambrosio (PhD) gave a guest lecture as a Visiting Scientist of the DFG research unit FOR 2240 “Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in inflammatory diseases of the eye” at the Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Cologne. Dr. Ambrosio is Group Leader of the Retinal Dysfunction and Neuro-inflammation Lab at the Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Life Sciences (IBILI), Medical Faculty, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
His main scientific interests are focused on the pathogenic mechanisms underlying retinal dysfunction and degeneration in retinal degenerative diseases, particularly paying attention to the role of inflammatory mediators.
His talk concerned the role of immune activation during blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown and the development of retinal pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Furthermore, he discussed neuro-inflammatory mediators as possible therapeutic targets to treat retinal degenerative diseases.
