研究领域

Stem Cells, Ophthalmology, Transplantation, Pathology, Inflammation

Ultraviolet Radiation and Tumours of the Human Cornea 1. Our research program focuses on understanding how excessive solar ultraviolet radiation and viral infections are potential triggers for diseases that develop on the surface of the human eye including benign pterygia, and invasive neoplasias. We study the role inflammatory mediators including cytokines, growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases in the pathogenesis of these lesions using cell culture models and fresh human tissue specimens. In collaboration with Professor Gary Halliday (USyd) we have been developing animal models of ocular cancer. Corneal Stem Cell Transplantation 2. The second arm of our research program focuses on identifying, isolating and cultivating human corneal stem cells to help us understand how the ocular surface is replenished and maintained in a healthy transparent state under normal physiological conditions and following trauma. We also hope to identify better culture conditions and better markers for these rare cells with the ultimate aim of generating better quality grafts to treat patients with severe corneal diseases. Corneal Wound Healing 3. The third arm of our research program focuses on devising therapies to treat patients with persistent corneal epithelial defects. Patients with these conditions do not require a cell or tissue replacement strategy and we are devising methods to dispense wound-healing factors to the cornea in order to prevent infection and other complications

近期论文

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Wilkinson A; Kawaguchi N; Geczy C; Di Girolamo N, 2016, 'S100A8 and S100A9 proteins are expressed by human corneal stromal dendritic cells', British Journal of Ophthalmology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-308827 Bobba S; Di Girolamo N; Mills R; Daniell M; Chan E; Harkin DG; Cronin BG; Crawford G; McGhee C; Watson S, 2016, 'Nature and incidence of severe limbal stem cell deficiency in Australia and New Zealand.', Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ceo.12813 Lobo EP; Delic NC; Richardson A; Raviraj V; Halliday GM; Di Girolamo N; Myerscough MR; Lyons JG, 2016, 'Self-organized centripetal movement of corneal epithelium in the absence of external cues.', Nature Communications, vol. 7, pp. 12388, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12388 Eghtedari Y; Richardson A; Mai K; Heng B; Guillemin GJ; Wakefield D; Di Girolamo N, 2016, 'Keratin 14 expression in epithelial progenitor cells of the developing human cornea', Stem Cells and Development, vol. 25, no. 9, pp. 699 - 711, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/scd.2016.0039 Richardson A; Wakefield D; Di Girolamo N, 2016, 'Fate Mapping Mammalian Corneal Epithelia', The Ocular Surface, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 82 - 99, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtos.2015.11.007 Di Girolamo N; Chow S; Richardson A; Wakefield D, 2016, 'Contamination of primary human corneal epithelial cells with an SV40-transformed human corneal epithelial cell line: A lesson for cell biologists in good laboratory practice', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 57, no. 2, pp. 611 - 616, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.15-18783 Bobba S; Di Girolamo N, 2016, 'Contact lenses: A delivery device for stem cells to treat corneal blindness', Optometry and Vision Science, vol. 93, no. 4, pp. 412 - 418, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000000699 Jones LW; Chauhan A; Di Girolamo N; Sheedy J; Smith E, 2016, 'Expert views on innovative future uses for contact lenses', Optometry and Vision Science, vol. 93, no. 4, pp. 328 - 335, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/OPX.0000000000000700 Gupta B; Mai K; Lowe SB; Wakefield D; Di Girolamo N; Gaus K; Reece PJ; Gooding JJ, 2015, 'Ultrasensitive and Specific Measurement of Protease Activity Using Functionalized Photonic Crystals', Analytical Chemistry, vol. 87, no. 19, pp. 9946 - 9953, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5b02529 Di Girolamo N, 2015, 'Moving epithelia: Tracking the fate of mammalian limbal epithelial stem cells', Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, vol. 48, pp. 203 - 225, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2015.04.002 Bobba S; Chow S; Watson S; Di Girolamo N, 2015, 'Clinical outcomes of xeno-free expansion and transplantation of autologous ocular surface epithelial stem cells via contact lens delivery: A prospective case series', Stem Cell Research and Therapy, vol. 6, no. 1, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13287-015-0009-1 Samarawickrama C; Cherepanoff S; Di Girolamo N; Benger R; Watson S, 2015, 'Unusual Limbal Lesion in Neurofibromatosis Type 1', Cornea, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0000000000000353 Di Girolamo N; Bobba S; Raviraj V; Delic NC; Slapetova I; Nicovich PR; Halliday GM; Wakefield D; Whan R; Lyons JG, 2015, 'Tracing the fate of limbal epithelial progenitor cells in the murine cornea', Stem Cells, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 157 - 169, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/stem.1769 Chow S; Di Girolamo N, 2014, 'Vitronectin: a migration and wound healing factor for human corneal epithelial cells', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 55, no. 10, pp. 6590 - 6600, http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/iovs.14-15054 Hassan NMM; Painter N; Howlett CR; Farrell AW; Di Girolamo N; Lyons JG; Halliday GM, 2014, 'BrmInhibits the proliferative response of keratinocytes and corneal epithelial cells to ultraviolet radiation-induced damage', PLoS One, vol. 9, no. 9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107931 Mai K; Chui JJY; Di Girolamo N; McCluskey PJ; Wakefield D, 2014, 'Role of toll-like receptors in human iris pigment epithelial cells and their response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns', Journal of Inflammation, vol. 11, no. 1, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-9255-11-20 Nicovich PR; Slapetova I; Whan R; Raviraj V; Bobba S; Di Girolamo N; Lyons JG, 2013, 'Imaging and Lineage Segmentation in Homozygous R26R-Confetti Mice', Molecular Biology of the Cell, vol. 24, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000209348700008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a Di Girolamo N; Atik A; McCluskey PJ; Wakefield D, 2013, 'Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Conjunctiva', The Ocular Surface, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 193 - 205, http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000344216400006&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=891bb5ab6ba270e68a Di Girolamo N; Ordonez P; Chow S, 2013, 'Integrin alphavbeta5 identifies human corneal epithelial stem cells', Acta Ophthalmologica, vol. 91, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2013.4763.x Tonthat CV; Di Girolamo N, 2013, 'Nestin expression in pterygia: potential role in angiogenesis', British Journal of Ophthalmology, vol. 98, pp. 801 - 807, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-303919