Dr. Katja Schenke-Layland of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology was recently awarded the Harold F. Cleaver International Research Scholar Award by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB), for conducting research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of blinding diseases at the Eye Institute of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC).
The award reportedly allows scientists outside the U.S. to work with American institutions in the field of eye research. Through the award, Schenke-Layland plans to build on a collaboration with Dr. Sarah Hamm-Alvarez, professor of ophthalmology and of pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences at the Keck School of Medicine at USC to develop a human-based in-vitro model of the lacrimal gland. Their aim is to develop a novel stem-cell based tissue engineering strategy for regenerating lacrimal glands damaged by Sjögren’s syndrome, as well as dry eye.
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Source: Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology