缅北禁地

Skip to main content

Staff Profile

Professor Francisco Figueiredo

Honorary Clinical Professor

  • Email: francisco.figueiredo@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 282 5582
  • Fax: +44 (0) 191 282 5446
  • Address: Royal Victoria Infirmary
    Dept of Ophthalmology
    Queen Victoria Road
    缅北禁地 upon Tyne
    NE1 4LP
Research

Research Interests

Research Focus- Limbal stem cells

The cornea is the clear front of the eye and its clarity is vital for the transmission of light to the retina at the back of the eye for visual perception. The surface of the cornea is composed of an pithelium, and this is continuous with that of the surrounding conjunctiva. The transition between the corneal and conjunctival epithelia is formed by the limbal epithelium, and this harbours the stem cells for the corneal epithelium, the so-called limbal stem cells.

Limbal stem cell deficiency is an ocular surface disease characterised by the loss or dysfunction of limbal stem cells. It results from a variety of causes, including hemical and thermal burns to the eye, contact lens related eye disease, hereditary diseases (such as aniridia and ectodermal dysplasia), and inflammatory diseases
(such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid).

The major research areas for the limbal stem cell project are:

1. Identification of limbal stem cell markers – To date there are no known specific limbal stem cell markers. A major component of the project involves the investigation of new limbal stem cell markers, especially those which can be found on the cell surface.

2. Investigation of the limbal stem cell microenvironment – The environment which supports limbal stem cell survival is also being investigated. This can give important clues about the signalling mechanisms which maintain the limbal stem cells. This will not only aid in the identification of new limbal stem cell markers, but may enable the development of new growth promoting strategies for limbal stem cells.

3. Culture of limbal stem cells – A major new treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency is the culture and expansion of limbal stem cells for the purposes of transplantation in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. This area of research forms another major component to the project. The cells will be grown in animal
free conditions under Good Manufacturing Practice specifically for therapeutic purposes.

4. Transplantation of limbal stem cells – The main aim of the project is the identification of new treatment strategies for limbal stem cell deficiency. These include the transplantation of expanded limbal stem cells and the use of growth promoters to expand any surviving limbal stem cells. These new treatments are currently being investigated in the form of a clinical trial sponsored by the MRC UK.

This is a collaborative effort between Prof Majlinda Lako and myself.

Publications
  • Baudouin C, Irkec M, Messmer EM, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Bonini S, Figueiredo FC, Geerling G, Labetoulle M, Lemp M, Rolando M, Van Setten G, Aragona P. . Acta Ophthalmologica 2017, epub ahead of print.
  • Dumusc A, Ng W-F, James K, Griffiths B, Price E, Pease CT, Emery P, Lanyon P, Jones A, Bombardieri M, Sutcliffe N, Pitzalis C, Gupta M, McLaren J, Cooper A, Giles I, Isenberg D, Saravanan V, Coady D, Dasgupta B, McHugh N, Young-Min S, Moots RJ, Gendi N, Akil M, Barone F, Fisher BA, Rauz S, Richards A, Bowman SJ, Frankland H, Mediana A, Chadravarty K, Lamabadusuriya S, Adeniba R, Hamburger J, Higham J, Poveda-Galego A, Logan J, Mulherin D, Andrews J, McManus A, Booth A, Regan M, Dimitroulas T, Kadiki L, Kaur D, Kitas G, Lloyd M, Moore L, Gordon E, Lawson C, Hunter J, Stirton L, Ortiz G, Clunie G, Rose G, Cuckow S, Knight S, Symmons D, Jones B, Carr A, Edgar S, Carrozzo M, Figueiredo F, Foggo H, Gillespie C, Hindmarsh V, Lendrem D, Macleod I, Mitchell S, Tarn J, Muir A, White P, Pugmire S, Watkins M, Field A, Kaye S, Mewar D, Medcalf P, Tomlinson P, Whiteside D, Pauling J, James J, Olaitan N, McDermott J, Godia O, Kidd E, Palmer L, Katsande V, Long P, Chandra U, MacKay K, Fedele S, Ferenkeh-Koroma A, Marconnell H, Porter S, Brailsford S, Allcoat P. . Swiss Medical Weekly 2018, 148, w14588.
  • Ting DSJ, Figueiredo GS, Henein C, Barnes E, Ahmed O, Mudhar HS, Figueiredo FC. . Cornea 2018, 37(5), 641-646.
  • Kamarudin TA, Bojic S, Collin J, Yu M, Alharthi S, Buck H, Shortt A, Armstrong L, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. . Stem Cells 2018, 36(3), 337-348.
  • Okonkwo ACO, Siah WF, Hogg HDJ, Anwar H, Figueiredo FC. . Eye 2018, 32(4), 775-781.
  • Dua HS, Said DG, Messmer EM, Rolando M, Benitez-Del-Castillo JM, Hossain PN, Shortt AJ, Gerling G, Nubile M, Figueiredo FC, Rauz S, Mastropasqua L, Rama P, Baudouin C. . Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 2018, 66, 107-131.
  • Figueiredo GS, Salvador CB, Baylis O, Hardeep M, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. . Stem Cells 2018, 36(6), 925-931.
  • Baudouin C, Figueiredo FC, Messmer EM, Ismail D, Amrane M, Garrigue J-S, Bonini S, Leonardi A. . European Journal of Ophthalmology 2017, 27(5), 520-530.
  • Leonardi A, Van Setten G, Amrane M, Ismail D, Garrigue J-S, Figueiredo FC, Baudouin C. . European Journal of Ophthalmology 2017, 27(6), e194-e195.
  • Figueiredo GS, De Havilland JR, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. . In: Connon CJ, ed. Bioprocessing for Cell Based Therapies. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell, 2017, pp.211-236.
  • Westekemper H, Figueiredo FC, Siah WF, Wagner N, Steuhl K-P, Meller D. . British Journal of Ophthalmology 2017, 101(2), 103-107.
  • Miotto M, Gouveia R, Abidin FZ, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 2017, 9(47), 41131-41142.
  • Miotto M, Gouveia R, Abidin FZ, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017, 9(47), 41131-41142.
  • Figueiredo GS, Bojic S, Rooney P, Wilshaw SP, Connon CJ, Gouveaia RM, Patterson C, Lepert G, Mudhar HS, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. . Acta Biomaterialia 2017, 61, 124-133.
  • Gouveia RM, Koudouna E, Jester J, Figueiredo F, Connon CJ. . Advanced Biosystems 2017, 1(12), 1700135.
  • Okonkwo ACO, Hogg HDJ, Figueiredo FC. . Eye 2016, 30(11), 1433-1438.
  • Yu M, Bojic S, Figueiredo GS, Rooney P, deHavilland J, Dickinson A, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. . Experimental Eye Research 2016, 152, 113-122.
  • Ting DSJ, Potts J, Jones M, Lawther T, Armitage WJ, Figueiredo FC. . Eye 2016, 30(11), 1475-1480.
  • Leonardi A, Van Setten G, Amrane M, Ismail D, Garrigue J-S, Figueiredo FC, Baudouin C. . European Journal of Ophthalmology 2016, 26(4), 287-296.
  • Ting DSJ, Potts J, Jones M, Lawther T, Armitage WJ, Figueiredo FC. . Eye 2016, 30(3), 342-348.
  • Hogg J, Okonkwo A, Narayanan M, Siah WF, Figueiredo FC. . In: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting. 2015, Denver, CO: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Johnson ZK, Narayanan M, Siah WF, Anwar H, Figueiredo FC. . In: ARVO 2015 Annual Meeting. 2015, Denver, Colorado: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Purslow C, Patel D, Sykakis E, Williams C, Payne M, Figueiredo FC. . In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Opthalmology 2015 (ARVO 2015). 2015, Denver, Colorado, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Okonkwo A, Hogg J, Anwar H, Siah WF, Figueiredo FC. . In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). 2015, Denver, CO: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Figueiredo GS, Lako M, Ali S, Figueiredo FC. . In: MCLOSA 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting. 2015, London, UK: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Figueiredo FC, Lako M, Baylis O, Pesudovs K, Figueiredo G. . In: ARVO 2015 Annual Meeting. 2015, Denver, CO: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Figueiredo GSM, Jones MNA, Krishna Y, Figueiredo FCD, Larkin DFP, Kaye SB. . American Journal of Ophthalmology 2015, 160(3), 416-421.
  • Craig JA, Mahon J, Yellowlees A, Barata T, Glanville J, Arber M, Mandava L, Powell J, Figueiredo F. . The Ocular Surface 2014, 12(3), 202-214.
  • Figueiredo FC, Kolli S, Ahmad S, Lako M. . In: 20th Annual ISCT Meeting. 2014, Paris, France: Elsevier.
  • Kolli S, Ahmad S, Mudhar HS, Meeny A, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. . Stem Cells 2014, 32(8), 2135-2146.
  • Lako M, Kolli S, Ahmad S, Mudhar HS, Meeny A, Figueiredo F. . In: 20th Annual ISCT Meeting. 2014, Paris, France: Elsevier.
  • Baylis O, Rooney P, Figueiredo F, Lako M, Ahmad S. . Journal of Cellular Physiology 2013, 228(5), 1025-1030.
  • Dickinson A, Lako M, Kolli S, Figueiredo FC. . In: 19th ISCT Annual Meeting. 2013, Auckland, New Zealand: Informa Healthcare.
  • Osei-Bempong C, Figueiredo FC, Lako M. . BioEssays 2013, 35(3), 211-219.
  • Figueiredo GS, Kolli SSP, Ahmad S, Gales K, Figueiredo FC. . Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2013, 251(3), 809-815.
  • Sandhu SS, Smith JM, Doherty M, James A, Figueiredo FC. . Eye 2012, 26(5), 699-702.
  • Carr AJ, Ng WF, Figueiredo F, Macleod RI, Greenwood M, Staines K. . British Dental Journal 2012, 213(7), 353-357.
  • Baylis O, Figueiredo F, Henein C, Lako M, Ahmad S. . Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 2011, 112(4), 993-1002.
  • Kaye S, Tuft S, Neal T, Tole D, Leeming J, Figueiredo F, Armstrong M, McDonnell P, Tullo A, Parry C. . Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2010, 51(1), 362-368.
  • Kolli S, Ahmad S, Lako M, Figueiredo F. . Stem Cells 2010, 28(3), 597-610.
  • Ahmad S, Figueiredo F, Lako M. . Regenerative Medicine 2006, 1(1), 29-44.
  • Koay PYP, Lee WH, Figueiredo FC. . Cornea 2005, 24(3), 292-296.
  • Ahmad S, Hyslop LA, Jahoda CA, Strachan T, Lako M, Figueiredo FC. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2004, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Figueiredo FC, Hodge R, Figueiredo MS, Johnson R. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2004, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Parry PA, Teale C, Irwin DE, Burk CT, Figueiredo MS, Figueiredo FC. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2004, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Figueirdo FC, Adams W. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Sandhu SS, Ressiniotis T, Gnanaraj L, Figueiredo FC. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: ssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Gnanaraj L, Sandhu S, Figueiredo FC. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Manvikar S, Figueiredo FC. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2003, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • McDonald CC, Kaye SB, Figueiredo FC, Macintosh G, Lockett C. . Eye 2002, 16(5), 601-607.
  • Figueiredo FC, Nicholls SM, Easty DL. . Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 2002, 43(3), 729-736.
  • Sandhu SS, Ashraff N, Chew K, McEleavy I, Harris M, Henderson P, James A, Figueiredo F. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2002, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Lee WH, Gales K, McCarthy J, Grinfeld E, Figueiredo F. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2002, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Figueiredo FC, Kaye SB, Lee WH, Gales K, Mallaiah U. . In: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2002, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Rao VJ, Gnanaraj L, Mitchell KW, Figueiredo FC. . Cornea 2001, 20(8), 834-838.
  • Lee W, Gales K, Wright M, Figueiredo F. . In: Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. 2001, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
  • Boyle NJ, Clarke MP, Figueiredo F. . Eye 2001, 15(5), 661-662.
  • Meller D, Pires RTF, Mack RJS, Figueiredo F, Heiligenhaus A, Park WC, Prabhasawat P, John T, McLeod SD, Steuhl KP, Tseng SCG. . Ophthalmology 2000, 107(5), 980-989.
  • Figueiredo FC, Koay PYP. Opinions on risk factors and treatment preferences for corneal graft rejection. In: INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE. 2000.
  • Figueiredo FC, Pendergrast DGC, Zhang L, Easty DL, Nicholls SM. An improved method for examining the corneal endothelium during graft rejection in the rat. EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH 1998, 67(6), 625-630.