UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
The primary focus of the lab at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is to investigate the development and maintenance of retinal cells crucial for vision, as well as how these processes are disrupted in disease. Additionally, we collaborate with Royal Brompton Hospital to better understand the airway disease, Primary Cilia Dyskinesia (PCD), and to develop new diagnostic tools.
Photoreceptors are the specialised cells that detect incoming photons and transmit this information to the brain, where it is decoded to provide vision. Our research focuses on the health and development of these cells, particularly in key processes such as lipid transport, the structure and renewal of outer segment discs (the region of the photoreceptor responsible for light detection), and the organisation of mitochondria and their membrane contact sites.
The RPE is a highly pigmented layer of cells that provides essential support to the retina, particularly the photoreceptors. This includes the daily engulfment and processing of the distal portion of photoreceptor outer segments as part of the visual cycle. The RPE then recycles and transports crucial components back to photoreceptors, where they are integrated into newly forming outer segments. We are particularly interested in understanding the RPE’s role in this process, as it is vital for photoreceptor health, and its impairment can lead to vision loss.
Motile cilia line the airway and move in a beating motion pushing mucus containing debris and pathogens away from the lungs where, helping to protect against infection. Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a disorder affecting these cilia, resulting in an increased risk of recurring respiratory tract infections. In collaboration with Intel , we are developing machine learning tools to detect ciliary defects in diagnostic images of PCD.
To support research data analysis, we have developed several open-source programs, including imaging tools for analysing electron microscopy data and aiding in the diagnosis of Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Links to download these are given below.
Group Leader & MRC Career Development Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow
The following are a selection of images linked to published work that highlight some of our research interests. This includes data that was collected when Tom Burgoyne was a PhD student and postdoc.
A slice from an electron tomogram that includes an overlay of a model showing the structure of the discs in the light detecting outer segment region of a rod photoreceptor. These disc structures are replaced on a daily basis from evaginations of the plasma membrane (shown in green).
Electron microscopy cross-sectional image of a human respiratory cilium. These cilia are hair like projections that eminate from the surface of respiratory epithelial cells. They are a type of motile cilia that beat and push mucus that can contain debris and pathogens up the airway where it can be expelled, protecting the airway and lungs.
Muscle is formed from repeatng units known as sarcomeres. At each end of the sarcomere is a dense structure known as the Z-band. This image shows the structure of small-Square lattice Z-Band in cardiac muscle generated from electron tomography data.
Electron tomography slice showing two photoreceptor inner segments side-by-side. The plasma membranes of the two cells are shown in red and blue and the mitochondria in green, cyan and purple. Strikely, the mitchondria are in contact with the plasma membrane and they are alignment inlcuding their cristae to michondria of neighbouring photoreceptors.
Immuno-electron microscopy gold labelling of the protein, OA1, expressed in HeLa cells. OA1 localises to multivesicular bodies as shown in this image and plays an important role in the biogenesis of melanosomes. Melanosomes are the organelles that give pigmentation to the skin, but also play a crucial role in preventing cellular damage within the eye caused by light exposure.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virions at the surface of a human airway epithelial cell. Cells were cultured from a nasal brushing biopsy and incubated with virus for 72 hours.
The following programs have been developed by Tom Burgoyne to perform data and image analysis, some of which are designed to assist in the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).
We would like to sincerely thank our funders for their support
