Swindle-Reilly receives the first Lois Hagelberger-Huebner Young Investigator Award from the Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation

Posted: September 20, 2017

Dr. Katelyn Swindle-Reilly, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering receives the Lois Hagelberger-Huebner Young Investigator Award from the Ohio Lions Eye Research Foundation. She is the first recipient of this new award. Co-PI is Matthew Ohr, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science. The proposal is titled “Sustained Release Bevacizumab Injectable for the Treatment of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration." This award is for $107,000 per year for two years, September 15, 2017 to September 14, 2019.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading causing of blindness in the US for individuals over the age of 65 and the third leading cause of blindness worldwide. The introduction of anti-VEGF therapy has significantly improved outcomes for wet AMD, but requires monthly intravitreal injections for maximum efficacy. We have developed a unique technology to tailor drug release from biodegradable polymer microparticles. Use of this technology will allow for sustained release of Bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) into the vitreous and hence reduce the frequency of drug administration.

Norbert Peiker (President Emeritus of the Ohio Lions Research Foundation - OLERF) and Nancy Brown (President of OLERF) are presenting Dr. Katelyn Swindle-Reilly with a check for the largest grant award they have ever presented – The Lois Hagelberger Huebner Young Investigators’ Award. Her Co-Investigator, Dr. Matthew Ohr is on the far left and Dr. Rich Hart (Chair of Biomedical Engineering) is on the far right.

Dr. Swindle-Reilly also holds a courtesy appointment in Ophthalmology at The Ohio State University.

Congratulations Dr. Swindle-Reilly and team!