Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2009

Mentor: W. Matthew Petroll
Department: Ophthalmology
Room number: E7.224
Mail Code: 9057
Phone number: 648-7216
E-mail: matthew.petroll@utsouthwestern.edu

Project # 1 title: Collagen Matrix Reorganization During Corneal Wound Healing

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Basic

Brief Description of Project:

Following injury or incisional surgery, corneal keratocytes migrate into the wound space and generate contractile forces which mediate wound closure and extracellular matrix remodeling. The goal of this project is to assess the pattern of force generation by corneal keratocytes using an in vitro wound healing model. Corneal keratocytes will be cultured within 3-D fibrin matrices, and treated with key growth factors present during in vivo wound healing (TGF-beta, PDGF, CTGF). Changes in cytoskeletal organization and cell-induced matrix reorganization will be assessed using confocal fluorescence and reflection microscopy. The student will assist with cell culture, plating of cells within the 3-D matrices, and recording and analysis of 3-D images.

Project # 2 title: Intrastromal Corneal Wound Healing

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects)

Basic

Brief Description of Project:

Following laser refractive surgery (e.g. LASIK), corneal keratocytes migrate into the wound space from the surrounding stroma to replace cells damaged by the laser. To maintain corneal clarity, it is desirable to have cells migrate into the wound area without generating large contractile forces or synthesizing extracellular matrix proteins. The goal of this project is to assess how key growth factors regulate this "intrastromal wound healing" using a recently developed culture model of the cornea. In this model, keratocytes are plated within compressed collagen matrices which mimic the geometry and mechanical stiffness of the cornea. Mechanical or thermal injuries are used to create an intrastromal wound, and cell migration in response to growth factor treatment is evaluated using time-lapse microscopic imaging. The student will assist with cell culture, plating of cells within the 3-D matrices, and recording and analysis of time-lapse images.