Development of a new strategy for sustained release of ocular drugs based on patients and health professional’s acceptance

Main Supervisor: Dr Raquel Gil-Cazorla; Associate Supervisors: Dr Gurpreet Bhogal-Bhamra & Dr Shehzad A Naroo

Topical administration, mostly in form of eye drops, is employed to treat anterior and some posterior segment diseases. Ocular drug delivery has been a major challenge to pharmacologists and drug delivery scientists due to its unique anatomy and physiology. Upon administration, pre-corneal factors and anatomical barriers negatively affect the bioavailability of topical formulations. This results in only 1-7% of the medication within an eye drop reaching the target tissue and exerting a therapeutic effect, with the remainder being either spilled onto the external ocular surface or absorbed systemically. Regarding patient compliance, it is widely acknowledged that between a third and a half of all medicines prescribed for long-term conditions are not taken as recommended. In addition, several patients use excessive drops unnecessarily purely due to poor administration techniques, which adds to the burdens of repeat prescribing and national medication costs.

In light of this unmet need and the growing interest in the field of ocular drug delivery, our study aims to examine patients' acceptance and perception toward their current ocular medication and evaluate patients’ receptiveness toward and insights of a different or new ocular drug delivery, and to determine the characteristics of subgroups of patients and health professionals who are willing to accept a new treatment or technology. Based on patients and health professional’s acceptance we will design a new system to sustained delivery ocular drug in the anterior segment.

The successful candidate will be undertaking both laboratory-based work and working directly with patients. This is a unique opportunity to work on a truly interdisciplinary project combining Optometry, Ophthalmology and Pharmacology.

Aston University was ranked 5th out of 94 UK Higher Education Institutions for research in Allied Health Professions (REF 2014) and was ranked 1st for research environment. Additional information about research in the School can be found at http://www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/. Informal enquiries can be made to Dr Raquel Gil-Cazorla at: [Email Address Removed].
Financial Support:
The studentship is open to Home/EU students only and comprises of a tax-free stipend at the 2018/19 RCUK rate of £14,777 per annum and payment of Home/EU tuition fees only. The studentship is available for three years, subject to satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year, with an anticipated registration of April 2019.
Application Requirements:
● Eligible Applicants should hold at least a Bachelor(Hons.) Degree of either 1st Class/2.1 in Optometry.

● EU Applicants will need to demonstrate adequate proficiency in English Language skills, with a minimum overall score of 93 (Internet Based) (with a minimum score in each section of: R: 18, W: 23, L: 19 and S: 19) in TOEFL or IELTS with minimum marks of 6.0 in each section and an overall band of 6.5.

● To apply, please complete the on-line application form at:
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/postgraduate-research/apply/, choosing ‘Research Full-time Health Sciences April 2019’ (please select this under the ‘Entry Month of All’). Please quote Reference: ‘PhD_Gil Gazorla’ on your application.

● The Closing Date for All Applications is: Sunday: 16th December 2018