Louise Ainscough
  1. Current research activities

    2. My current research involves the isolation and expansion of corneal stem cells using a serum-free technique with defined growth factors. I am also investigating the use of fibrin glue as a carrier for corneal stem cell grafts.

  2. Keywords

    3. ECM-growth factor complexes, wound regeneration, adult stem cells, serum-free cell culture.

  3. End-user applications

    • Treatment of corneal stem cell deficiency
    • Ocular burns
    • Ex vivo cell expansion

  4. Key publications

    5. I. Kricker, J.A., Noble., A, Hyde., C.E., Firth, S.M., Herington, A.C. & Upton, Z. (2003) Structural and functional evidence for the interaction of IGFs and IGF-binding proteins with vitronectin. Endocrinology 144, 2807-2815
    II. Barnard, Z., Apel, A. & Harkin, D. (2001). Phenotypic analyses of limbal epithelial cell cultures derived from donor corneoscleral rims. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 29: 138-142.
    III. Pellegrini, G., Golisano, O., Paterna, P., Lambiase, A., Bonini, S., Rama, P. & De Luca, M. (1999). Location and clonal analysis of stem cells and their differentiated progeny in the human ocular surface. The Journal of Cell Biology 145: 769-782.
    IV. Rama, P., Bonini, S., Lambiase, A., Golisano, O., Paterna, P., De Luca, M. & Pellegrini, G. (2001). Autologous fibrin-cultured limbal stem cells permanently restore the corneal surface of patients with total limbal stem cell deficiency. Transplantation 72: 1478-1485.
    V. Han, B., Schwab, I.R., Madsen, T.K. & Isseroff, R.R. (2002). A fibrin-based bioengineered ocular surface with human corneal epithelial stem cells. Cornea 21: 505-510.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. Not as Yet.

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. Not as Yet.

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No.

  8. Young investigator?

    9. No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • Corneal stem cell isolation
    • Primary tissue culture
    • Functional assays (migration, attachment, proliferation)
    • Use of amniotic membrane or fibrin glue

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Primary tissue culture laboratory
    • Fibrin glue spray applicator

© 2004

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