New Research Network Aims To Build a Better Eye

A new $6.7 million funding programme was recently announced to deal with the increasing loss of vision suffered by canadians, who at last count numbered in the millions. The network would involve researchers from twelve universities and ten industry heavyweights. They will work on developing new materials and the underlying technologies that would treat close to a million Canadians who suffer from loss of vision. Medical experts estimate that the number could dramatically rise as the population of country ages.

The announcement was made by Gary Goodyear, Canada’s Federal Minister of State (Science and Technology) at the McMaster University in Hamilton. The The 20/20: NSERC Ophthalmic Materials Network (20/20 Network) is part of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada funding announcement. The NSERC will provide $5 million to the 20/20 network over a period of five years through Strategic Network Grant. Funding is also provided by other industrial and institutional partners and the Ontario Centres of Excellence as well.

Heather Sheardown, Scientific Director, 20/20 Network and Professor of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University said, “Providing Canadians with a lifetime of perfect vision is the ultimate goal of the network. It is rather ambitious but by combining different areas of expertise there is a lot of potential for drastically improving treatment of vision loss.”

The 20/20 Network plans to focus on developing and commercializing new biomaterials, medical devices and drug delivery devices for treating vision disorders. Some of the products will include: ocular microgels, microemulsions and triggerable materials for drug release; a drug delivery system that attaches to the back of the eye to eliminate monthly needle injections; and contact lenses that eliminate end-of-day dryness and discomfort.