BME Seminar Series: Dr. Ilva Rupenthal, The University of Auckland
ZOOM Meeting
https://osu.zoom.us/j/91535887507?pwd=K3M4R2NSS29ERm5JdURnRk1TRXBkZz09
United States
Ilva Rupenthal, PhD
Associate Professor
Director of the Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit
Department of Ophthalmology
New Zealand National Eye Centre
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
The University of Auckland
Abstract:
"In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models for ocular drug delivery research"
While the eye is readily accessible from the outside of the body, it is a rather isolated organ with a number of barriers and elimination mechanisms in place to protect it from the environment, rendering efficient drug delivery difficult. To enhance drug bioavailability in the eye, members of the Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit have investigated a number of delivery approaches over recent years, aiming to increase drug permeation and retention while also allowing for sustained drug release over prolonged periods. This presentation will give an overview of the delivery approaches investigated with an emphasis on the various preclinical models used to test such systems.
Bio:
Dr. Ilva Rupenthal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the inaugural Director of the Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit (www.botu.nz), which aims to translate ocular therapeutic related scientific research into the clinical setting. Her main interest is in the area of translational research, applying her pharmaceutical knowledge to biomedical applications to develop novel ocular drug delivery systems with improved efficacy and safety with current projects on dry eye, uveitis, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration management. Ilva has worked with semifluorinated alkane, polymeric, in situ gelling and nanoparticulate systems for the delivery of various therapeutics to reduce inflammatory processes in the eye. She is an author on over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and has attracted more than NZ$12.4m in research funding. Dr. Rupenthal has received several awards including the Health Research Council of New Zealand 25th Anniversary Emerging Researcher Excellence Award in 2016 and the University of Auckland Early Career Research Excellence Award in 2014, while also winning Spark Entrepreneurship Ideas Challenges for her innovative ocular drug delivery ideas.