New Zealand researchers developing cultured corneal endothelial cells to treat corneal dysfunction have reached a significant milestone. South Island-based oDocs co-founder Dr Sheng Chiong Hong said his team has recently received human ethics approval and plan to publish early findings later this year.
In 2024, Dr Hong was awarded a Health Research Council of New Zealand Explorer Grant of $150,000 to support his research into a novel approach to treating corneal dysfunction through cultured corneal endothelial cell therapy. Although the grant period is now nearing completion, the research programme is ongoing, he said, and they have secured an additional corneal donor tissue supplier for research from the US through Vision Share.
Dr Hong’s team also established a laboratory in Dunedin with the support of the University of Otago, where a postdoctoral researcher is working on the project, helping to build local capability and advance the corneal endothelial cell culture work.
“Our next major milestone is scheduled for August, when we plan to undertake our first cross-Tasman transfer of a batch of cultured corneal endothelial cells to New Zealand,” he said. They are aiming to publish findings by the end of this year and present them at next year’s ANZ Cornea Meeting.
To maintain momentum, the team has submitted three further grant applications to support the next phase. “Our early findings are very promising. In our best culture outcome to date, one donor cornea generated enough endothelial cells for a potential 1:8 donor-to-recipient expansion ratio. This is an extremely exciting result for the entire team and supports the long-term vision of developing a donor-sparing corneal endothelial cell therapy pathway for New Zealand,” said Dr Hong.
