Almac Discovery, McClay Foundation and Ulster University join forces to explore diseases of the eye

Published: 31-May-2016

In a two-year project, the participants will investigate the effects of the protein FKBP-L on eye diseases


Under a two year research collaboration funded jointly by the McClay Foundation and Almac Discovery, Ulster University will initiate research to investigate the effects of the protein FKBP-L on eye diseases.

Professor Tara Moore, an expert in ophthalmological conditions, and her team at Ulster University, will look at the effects of fragments of the protein FKBP-L in the eye and seek to understand their mode of action.

A peptide of FKBP-L (ALM201) is already in clinical development by Almac Discovery for cancer indications. The peptide has anti-angiogenic properties and it is these properties that have already proved valuable, with drugs such as Lucentis, in treating ophthalmological conditions.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a process that is critical for the growth of tumours beyond a certain size. However, ocular conditions such as wet age related macular degeneration also have issues with unwanted vascular growth. Here unwanted blood vessels grow under the retina causing distorted vision and blind spots.

Professor Moore said: 'We will use state-of-the-art technologies including gene editing to conduct research into the mechanism of action of FKBP-L based peptide fragments in the eye.

'My research team consisting of scientists and clinicians are excited to be involved in discovering how they can be utilised in ophthalmology and treatment of blinding eye diseases. We welcome this opportunity for collaboration with such a globally successful industrial partner as Almac Discovery.'

Stephen Barr, President, Almac Discovery, added: ‘It is great to have such excellence on our doorsteps in Northern Ireland and we therefore look forward to a productive and informative collaboration with Professor Moore and Ulster University.'

The McClay Foundation, established by Almac founder, the late Sir Allen McClay in 2008, is a charitable foundation which aims to advance the use of diagnostic tools and drugs in the prevention, control and cure of disease and to support and encourage research and innovation in the field of healthcare and allied technologies.

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