The Network of Excellence in Corneal Regeneration

Nadia Zakaria, PhD

Guest Professor, University of Antwerp

Research fellow, University Hospital Antwerp/supported by IWT

Education:

PhD 05/2013 University of Antwerp, Belgium

PLAB 09/2005 General Medical Council, UK

M.B.B.S 08/2004 Sindh Medical College, University of Karachi, Pakistan

Scientific Prizes, Distinctions and Grants:

Funds for research in Ophthalmology (Société Royale de Philanthropie) - €10,000: Self aligning recombinant human collagen scaffolds for corneal tissue engineering (2013)
FWO Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen - Development of a biomimetic cornea combining additive manufacturing and stem cell technologies €584,000 (2013)
EU- COST for joint collaboration on the project: Joining forces in corneal regeneration research (2013)
IWT agentschap voor innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie, €905.463 for the project: Translational stem cell research in ophthalmology – regenerating the anterior cornea through standardized transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells: a phase II multicenter trial. (2013)
FRO research grant prize €5,000 for the project: “Fate of transplanted limbal epithelial stem cells” (2012)
FRO research grant prize €10,000 for the project: “Importance of the extracellular milieu in limbal epithelial stem cell damage and repair”. (2012)
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology(ARVO) International Travel Grant $1,100.00 USD (2012).
Special jury prize: the most innovative research on regenerative medicine with cells and tissues by The Belgian Association for Bioindustries €3000 (2011).
IWT agentschap voor innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie, €556,692 for the project: Translational stem cell research in ophthalmology – regenerating the anterior cornea through standardized transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells: a phase I/II trial. (2010)
FRO research grant 1st prize €25,000 for the project: Tear film biomarkers as prognostic indicators for recurrent pterygium (2010)
Jules Francois Award at the OB 2009 and cash prize of €2,500 for the project: Immunomodulation of corneal epithelial cells following electroporation with mRNA encoding IL-10 and FasL. (2009)
FRO research grant 1st prize €25,000 for the project: Immunomodulation of corneal epithelial cells following electroporation with mRNA encoding IL-10 and FasL. (2009)
FRO research grant €15,000 for the project: Inflammatory cytokines in the tears of patients with vascularized corneas. (2009)
The BSCRS ARVO-EVER travel grant for the project: Cultivated stem cell transplantation for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency. €2,500 (2008)
FRO research grant 1st prize for the project: Cultivated stem cell transplantation for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency. €25,000 (2008)
FRO research grant €13,000 for the project: Ex vivo expansion of human limbal epithelial stem cells for the treatment of corneal diseases with limbal stem cell deficiency. (2007)
Certificate of Honour in recognition of outstanding performance in Community Medicine (2003)