The defense takes place

Friday, December 8th, 2023. Time: 13:00 am
At the department of Clinical Medicine
Place: in room 11.01.032
Selma Lagerløfs Vej 249, Aalborg University

After the defense there will be held a reception. All are welcome.

 

PhD supervisors

Professor Henrik Vorum, MD, DMSc, PhD
Dpt. of Ophthalmology, Aalborg University Hospital

Assistant Ph.D supervisors

Professor Bent Honoré, MD, DMSc
Dpt. of Biomedicine, Aarhus University

Professor Christian Torp-Pedersen, MD, DMSc
Dpt. of Cardiology, Nordsjællands University Hospital

Lasse Jørgensen Cehofski, MD, PhD
Dpt. of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital

Kristian Aasbjerg, MD, PhD
Himmerland Eye Clinic, Aalborg

Benedict Kjærgaard, MD
Aalborg University Hospital

Assessment Committee

Professor Mette Grønkjær (chair), Aalborg University

Clinical Associate Professor Line Petersen, Aarhus University

Principal Investigator Ingeborg Klaassen, University of Amsterdam

 

About the PhD thesis

Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a devastating disorder that frequently leads to severe vision loss in the affected eye. Most often induced by embolism, RAO shares similarities with the pathophysiology of cerebral stroke. The primary focus for development of treatment for RAO has been to restore the circulation, but to date there exists no effective treatment. Parallel to investigations in stroke research, alternative treatment directions include the development of neuroprotective agents and the effect of secondary prevention, but these remain to be thoroughly investigated in RAO. This dissertation aimed at broadening the foundation for potential future treatment directions for RAO in a multifaceted approach.

Study I was a comprehensive review of previously applied animal models of RAO to explore favorable experimental set-ups to be implemented in Study III. The review stressed the importance of closely mimicking the characteristics of the human disease to maximize the translational potential. Study II was an epidemiological study based on the Danish registries and evaluated the risk of cardiovascular diseases in patients with RAO and the effect of antithrombotic treatment as secondary prevention. The study found an increased risk of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction among patients with RAO. Treatment with antithrombotic medication was not associated with a decreased risk. Study III was an experimental study and validated a new model for RAO using laser on a retinal artery in pigs. Proteomics of the retinas were applied as an un-biased investigation of the molecular changes in RAO. Numerous regulated proteins were identified including upregulation of several involved in inflammation and downregulation of proteins involved in visual pathways and synapses.

In summary, these studies contribute to the understanding of RAO by addressing important aspects such as animal models, secondary prevention, and molecular changes. The findings provide a foundation for future research and highlight the complexity of RAO, emphasizing the potential for new directions in the development of effective treatments for this condition.

 

Contact information

You can contact M.D., Nanna Vestergaard Azuz if you have any questions about the defense by clicking here on her e-mail.

Nanna Vestergaard Azuz
E-mail: nanna@azuz.dk
Aalborg Universityhospital
Department of Ophthalmology
9000 Aalborg