Research · PhD · Since March 2025
Predictive models for limbal stem cell deficiency.
Can a predictive framework trained on IVCM imaging and clinical metadata improve the characterisation of disease trajectory at the individual-patient level?
The problem
Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) is a condition in which the cornea’s regenerative stem-cell population is lost or dysfunctional, leading to conjunctivalisation, neovascularisation, and persistent epithelial defects. Clinical trajectories are heterogeneous, and existing grading systems, while useful, leave substantial uncertainty about which patients will progress, respond to conservative management, or require surgical intervention.
Method
Current work focuses on cohort construction, feature engineering from IVCM, and evaluation of supervised and representation-learning approaches under small-sample constraints and rigorous data-governance protocols. The research is conducted within a UK clinical-research framework with cross-functional collaboration between ML engineering and clinical ophthalmology.
Supervision.
Status
Second-year candidate. Expected completion 2028/29.
Open to
- Clinical partners with IVCM datasets interested in collaborative benchmarking.
- Reviewer invitations in ophthalmic AI, medical image analysis, and small-cohort clinical ML.
- Co-authorship in related work (limbal niche biology, corneal epithelial regeneration, image-based prognosis).
Recent talks
Four talks across 2025–26 - including BAMC 2026 and the SAgE Faculty Research Conference. Full list: research talks.
Frequently asked questions
What is limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)?
A corneal surface disease caused by loss or dysfunction of the limbal stem cells that maintain the corneal epithelium, producing symptoms ranging from photophobia to vision loss.
What dataset does this research use?
IVCM imaging and associated clinical metadata from a UK clinical-research collaboration.
Who is the supervisor?
Supervised by Professor Francisco Figueiredo, Professor Majlinda Lako, Professor Anvar Shukurov, and Dr Laura Wadkin at Newcastle University.