Sunday
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Arrival and Check-in
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Dinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm
Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff / Welcome from the GRC Chair
7:40 pm - 9:30 pm
Keynote Session: CRISPR/Personalized Medicine: Approaches for the Ocular Surface
Discussion Leaders: Natasha Frank (Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA) and Yen-Chiao Wang (Indiana University, USA)
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm
Introduction by Discussion Leader
7:45 pm - 8:20 pm
Stephen Tsang (Columbia University, USA)
"Precision CRISPR Genome Surgery for Imprecision Medicine"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm
Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:55 pm
Heli Skottman (Tampere University, Finland)
"Modeling of Limbal Stem Cell Differentiation Using Human Pluripotent Stem Cells"
8:55 pm - 9:05 pm
Discussion
9:05 pm - 9:15 pm
Catherine Lee (Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA)
"3D-Printed ABCB5-Positive Stem Cells for the Treatment of Corneal Blindness"
9:15 pm - 9:20 pm
Discussion
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm
General Discussion
Monday
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Intrinsic Microbiome and Influences of Microbiota from Remotes Sites
Discussion Leaders: Cintia de Paiva (Baylor College of Medicine, USA) and Abby Kroken (University of California, Berkeley, USA)
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am
Jerome Ozkan (University of New South Wales, Australia)
"Ocular Surface Microbiome: Genomic Analysis"
9:25 am - 9:35 am
Discussion
9:35 am - 9:55 am
Anat Galor (Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, USA)
"Microbiome: Influence of Age/Ocular Surface Disease"
9:55 am - 10:05 am
Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am
Nicole Carnt (University of New South Wales, Australia)
"Ocular Surface Immune Transcriptome and Tear Cytokines in Corneal Infection Patient"
10:15 am - 10:20 am
Discussion
10:20 am - 10:30 am
Holly Chinnery (University of Melbourne, Australia)
"Corneal Immunophenotype and Homeostasis in a Mouse Model of High Fat Diet"
10:30 am - 10:35 am
Discussion
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:25 am
Rachel Caspi (National Eye Institute, NIH, USA)
"Commensals and the Eye: The Good and the Bad"
11:25 am - 11:35 am
Discussion
11:35 am - 11:55 am
Mark Willcox (University of New South Wales, Australia)
"The Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Keratitis"
11:55 am - 12:05 pm
Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm
Laura Schaefer (Baylor College of Medicine, USA)
"Role of Butyrate in Maintenance of Ocular Surface Health"
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm
Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm
General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Free Time
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
The GRC Power Hourâ„¢
The GRC Power Hourâ„¢ is designed to address challenges women face in science and issues of diversity and inclusion. The program supports the professional growth of all members of our communities by providing an open forum for discussion and mentoring.
Organizers: Nicole Carnt (University of New South Wales, Australia) and Mark Willcox (University of New South Wales, Australia)
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Exosomes in Healthy and Diseased Ocular Surface
Session in memory of James Zieske and James Funderburgh.
Discussion Leaders: Sarah Hamm-Alvarez (Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA) and Sudan Puri (University of Houston College of Optometry, USA)
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm
Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:30 pm
Mehrnoosh Saghizadeh (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA)
"Regulation of Limbal Niche in Normal and Diabetic Cornea by Extracellular Vesicles"
6:30 pm - 6:40 pm
Discussion
6:40 pm - 7:05 pm
Victor Guaiquil (University of Illinois at Chicago, USA)
"Mesenchymal Stroma Cell Derived Exosomes for Corneal Repair"
7:05 pm - 7:15 pm
Discussion
7:15 pm - 7:30 pm
Aurelie Dos Santos (UCLA Stein Eye Institute, USA)
"Extracellular Vesicles for the Treatment of Corneal Scars"
7:30 pm - 7:40 pm
Discussion
7:40 pm - 8:00 pm
General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dinner
Tuesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am
Group Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Identification and Generation of Corneal Stem Cells and Their Use for Transplantation
Discussion Leaders: Daniel Aberdam (INSERM U976, France) and Koji Kitazawa (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan)
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am
Shigeto Shimmura (Keio University School of Medicine, Japan)
"The Use of Stem Cells for Corneal Disease Models and Cell Therapy"
9:25 am - 9:35 am
Discussion
9:35 am - 9:55 am
Nick Di Girolamo (University of New South Wales, Australia)
"Marking, Isolating and Transplanting Limbal Epithelial Progenitor Cells: Information Gleaned from a Colorful Biosensor Mouse"
9:55 am - 10:05 am
Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am
Sean Ashworth (Cardiff University, United Kingdom)
"Investigating Chondroitin Sulfate Substrates for the Cultivation of iPSC-Derived Corneal Epithelium"
10:15 am - 10:20 am
Discussion
10:20 am - 10:30 am
Vivek Singh (L V Prasad Eye Institute / Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, India)
"Limbal Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Novel Extracellular Matrix-Mimetic Hydrogel in Corneal Wound Healing"
10:30 am - 10:35 am
Discussion
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:25 am
Jie Zheng (University of California, Los Angeles, USA)
"The Use of Small-Molecules in Modulating Limbal Stem Cell Function"
11:25 am - 11:35 am
Discussion
11:35 am - 11:55 am
Ruby Shalom-Feuerstein (Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Israel)
"Stem Cell Tracking, Loss and Recovery in the Corneal Epithelium"
11:55 am - 12:05 pm
Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm
Yuzuru Sasamoto (Brigham and Women's Hospital, USA)
"Exploring Limbal Stem Cell Hierarchical Organization Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing"
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm
Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm
General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Transcriptomics and Proteomics: Corneal Cell Types and Changes in Disease
Discussion Leaders: Shukti Chakravarti (NYU Langone Health, USA) and Eleonora Maurizi (Università di Parma, Italy)
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm
Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:25 pm
De-Quan Li (Baylor College of Medicine, USA)
"Uncovering Novel Cell Types in Human Corneal Limbus Using Single-Cell Transcriptomics"
6:25 pm - 6:35 pm
Discussion
6:35 pm - 6:55 pm
David McGaughey (National Eye Institute, NIH, USA)
"Leveraging Hundreds of Publicly Available Ocular Gene-Expression Datasets to Identify Novel Transcripts, Tissue and Temporal Gene Markers, and Provide a Community Web Resource"
6:55 pm - 7:05 pm
Discussion
7:05 pm - 7:25 pm
Yutao Liu (Augusta University, USA)
"Identifying Pathological Changes in Keratoconus Using a Multi-Omics Approach"
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm
Discussion
7:35 pm - 7:45 pm
Takefumi Yamaguchi (Tokyo Dental College / Ichikawa General Hospital, Japan)
"Multi-Omics Analyses of Microenvironment of Aqueous Humor and Corneal Endothelial Cells in Bullous Keratopathy"
7:45 pm - 7:50 pm
Discussion
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm
General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dinner
Wednesday
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Corneal Neighbors Affecting Its Function: Conjunctiva, Meibomian and Lacrimal Glands
Discussion Leaders: Rachel Redfern (University of Houston, USA) and Ashkon Seyed-Safi (UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, United Kingdom)
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am
Helen Makarenkova (The Scripps Research Institute, USA)
"Effect of Inflammation and Aging on Lacrimal Gland Function"
9:25 am - 9:35 am
Discussion
9:35 am - 9:55 am
Sarah Hamm-Alvarez (Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA)
"Increased Tear Cathepsin S Drives Ocular Surface and Lacrimal Gland Inflammation"
9:55 am - 10:05 am
Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am
Zahra Tajbakhsh (University of New South Wales, Australia)
"The Role of Corneal and Conjunctival Epithelial Dendritic Cells in Seasonal and Perennial Allergic Conjunctivitis"
10:15 am - 10:20 am
Discussion
10:20 am - 10:30 am
Carlo Iomini (Johns Hopkins University, USA)
"Role of Primary Cilia-Mediated Signaling in Development and Regeneration of the Meibomian Glands"
10:30 am - 10:35 am
Discussion
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:25 am
Vivien Coulson-Thomas (University of Houston, USA)
"Hyaluronan Regulates Meibomian Gland Morphogenesis and Homeostasis"
11:25 am - 11:35 am
Discussion
11:35 am - 11:55 am
Darlene Dartt (Schepens Eye Research Institute / Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, USA)
"Conjunctival Goblet Cells Targets of Allergic and Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators"
11:55 am - 12:05 pm
Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm
Laura Rincon Frutos (Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, UMH-CSIC, Spain)
"Corneal Sensory Nerve Activity Depends on the Presence of Resident Dendritic Cells at Basal Conditions"
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm
Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm
General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Emerging Tools for Ocular Drug Delivery
Discussion Leaders: Rajiv Mohan (University of Missouri, USA) and Stephnie Kennedy (University of Liverpool, United Kingdom)
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm
Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:25 pm
Daniel Aberdam (INSERM U976, France)
"Modeling of Aniridia-Related Keratopathy and Identification of Novel Drugs for Potential Repurposing Treatment"
6:25 pm - 6:30 pm
Discussion
6:30 pm - 6:50 pm
Yolanda Diebold (University of Valladolid, Spain)
"Strategies to Deliver Natural Compounds to the Ocular Surface"
6:50 pm - 6:55 pm
Discussion
6:55 pm - 7:15 pm
Sara Nicoli (University of Parma, Italy)
"Topical Application of Polymeric Nanomicelles in Ophthalmology"
7:15 pm - 7:20 pm
Discussion
7:20 pm - 7:40 pm
Alicia Rodríguez-Gascón (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Spain)
"Gene Therapy to the Cornea"
7:40 pm - 7:45 pm
Discussion
7:45 pm - 8:00 pm
General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dinner
Thursday
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am - 9:00 am
Business Meeting
Nominations for the Next Vice Chair; Fill in Conference Evaluation Forms; Discuss Future Site and Scheduling Preferences; Election of the Next Vice Chair
9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Immunity and Inflammation in Ocular Surface Diseases
Discussion Leaders: Andrea Leonardi (University of Padua, Italy) and Rossella Titone (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, USA)
9:00 am - 9:05 am
Introduction by Discussion Leader
9:05 am - 9:25 am
Eric Pearlman (University of California, Irvine, USA)
"Innate Immunity in Microbial Keratitis"
9:25 am - 9:35 am
Discussion
9:35 am - 9:55 am
Suzanne Fleiszig (University of California, Berkeley, USA)
"Molecular Contributors to the Absence of a Bacterial Microbiome on the Healthy Cornea"
9:55 am - 10:05 am
Discussion
10:05 am - 10:15 am
Yutong Jin (University of Waterloo, Canada)
"Differential Reponses of Tear-Film PMNs on Reactive Oxygen Species Generation"
10:15 am - 10:20 am
Discussion
10:20 am - 10:30 am
Yulia Aziza (Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan)
"Increase of Glycocalyx Barrier in Cornea Epithelium via Toll-Like Receptor 3 (TLR3)"
10:30 am - 10:35 am
Discussion
10:35 am - 11:05 am
Coffee Break
11:05 am - 11:25 am
Michelle Callegan (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA)
"The Ocular Response to Infection"
11:25 am - 11:35 am
Discussion
11:35 am - 11:55 am
Homayon Ghiasi (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA)
"Role of Macrophage Populations in Herpes Virus Ocular Infection"
11:55 am - 12:05 pm
Discussion
12:05 pm - 12:15 pm
Rabia Mobeen (UNSW Sydney, Australia)
"Corneal Epithelial Dendritic Cell Density and Morphology After 3 Months of Overnight Orthokeratology and Rigid Contact Lens Wear Compared to No Lens Wear"
12:15 pm - 12:20 pm
Discussion
12:20 pm - 12:30 pm
General Discussion
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Free Time
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Poster Session
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
From Discovery to Clinic: Drug Testing and Regulatory Issues
Discussion Leaders: Shigeto Shimmura (Keio University School of Medicine, Japan) and Andrew Huang (Washington University in St. Louis, USA)
6:00 pm - 6:05 pm
Introduction by Discussion Leader
6:05 pm - 6:25 pm
Virender Sangwan (Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, India)
"The Liquid and Bioengineered Cornea: Stem Cells and Matrix"
6:25 pm - 6:35 pm
Discussion
6:35 pm - 6:55 pm
Che Connon (Newcastle University, United Kingdom)
"From Discovery to Clinic: Commercialising Innovations for Corneal Cell and Tissue Therapies"
6:55 pm - 7:05 pm
Discussion
7:05 pm - 7:25 pm
Pedram Hamrah (Tufts University School of Medicine, USA)
"A Novel Biomarker for Neuropathic Corneal Pain: From Bedside to Artificial Intelligence and Back"
7:25 pm - 7:35 pm
Discussion
7:35 pm - 7:45 pm
David Eveleth (Trefoil Therapeutics, USA)
"Engineering Growth Factors for Clinical Use in Corneal Disease"
7:45 pm - 7:50 pm
Discussion
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm
General Discussion
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Dinner
Friday
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Breakfast
9:00 am
Departure