Kilkenny researcher part of SETU team launching NO TEARS project

A Kilkenny man is among the researchers at South East Technological University (SETU) who hope to better understand the patient experience and to change how potential new treatments are developed in eye care.

The NO TEARS (New Opportunities in Teaching, Engaging, and Advocacy Research Seminars for dry eye disease) project is funded by SETU’s interdisciplinary research seed funding project.  

Led by a team of experts in both ocular science, health, and person-centred research, including Tess Ames, Dr Laurence Fitzhenry, Professor Martina Gooney, Dr Sharon Kinsella, and Kilkenny's Dr Evan Matthews, this initiative aims to make a profound impact on how patients engage with pre-clinical research. 

Dry eye disease, affecting over 350 million people worldwide, has long been a challenging condition for patients, clinicians, and scientists. Despite its significant impact on individuals' lives, finding effective treatments for this chronic condition has faced many obstacles.   

“Our aim is to change how we develop treatment options, to ensure that the patient's perspective and needs are at the forefront of this research. Ultimately, any  technologies developed should meet the needs of patients with the real and varied lived experiences of those living with dry eye,” says Dr Fitzhenry, lecturer and researcher in the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group in the Department of Science at SETU.  

The project begins this autumn and will host a series of events in Waterford. These events are designed to bring people with experience of dry eye disease, researchers, and clinicians together to connect, inform, and find solutions to treatment research challenges.  

Key partners include the Science Department and Health Sciences researchers at SETU's Waterford and Carlow campuses, as well as PPI Ignite, a catalyst for patient and public involvement in research. The Dry Eye Foundation in the US and Fighting Blindness are also involved, bringing patients directly to the forefront of the conversation.  

The group is enthusiastic about the potential impact of NO TEARS in strengthening SETU's commitment to patient and public involvement across all areas of research. 

“We see this as an opportunity to start with one area of lab-based research, but to ultimately expand upon the project and create a more flexible framework that all pre-clinical lab-based scientists can use, that emphasises end-user or patient involvement,” says Tess Ames, lead on this project and project manager in the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group at SETU.  

The NO TEARS aims to strengthen SETU's connections with international stakeholders and support future patient and public involvement in lab-based research.  

The project is set to host three events, October 16, a PPI workshop for researchers, November 20, a Dry Eye Information evening for patients, public, and clinicians, and December 9, a round-table discussion on dry eye disease. To learn more about these events, contact Tess Ames at Tess.Ames@setu.ie.