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Blog: Charlotte Wei's experience of the IHE Summer Studentship
11 October 2024
During the summer of 2024, I interned at Moorfields Eye Hospital working on the project ‘Developing a Computational Biomechanical Model to Understand Ocular Hypotony Treatment’ as part of the IHE Summer Studentship.
My journey towards this project began in my second year when I took the 'Foundations of Biomechanics' course with Dr. Thomas Peach. This course ignited my passion for applying biomaterial properties and biomechanics to solve real-world clinical problems. When I discovered the project on developing a computational biomechanical model to benefit treatment, I knew it aligned perfectly with my interests and applied without hesitation. My eight-week summer project was conducted alongside a senior student, Rozenn,and it was an incredibly rewarding experience.
During the first three weeks, we had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the clinical environment of the uveitis clinic at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Shadowing Dr. Karla Orsine Murta Dias and Dr. Harry Petrushkin. We spent time in both outpatient clinics and operating theaters, gaining valuable insights into patient symptoms, diagnostic tests (such as intraocular pressure checks and CT scans), and decision-making process for various treatments, hearing directly from the patients about how they are benefited from the injection treatment. We were also allowed to observe numerous of intravitreal injections and several cataract surgeries. These experiences deeply enriched our understanding of ocular anatomy and physiology, helping us to identify the most meaningful research outcomes we could achieve within the limited timespan of our project.
In the following weeks, our focus shifted to the biomechanical model aspects of the project. This phase involved studying and collecting data on the biomechanical properties of eye structures, conducting in vitro experiments on porcine eyes, building finite element models, and running simulations using ANSYS software. We began with a simplified model that included only the cornea, sclera, and a membrane separating the vitreous humor, with material properties approximated as linear elastic.
Gradually, we increased the model's complexity by incorporating additional anatomical structures such as the limbus, ciliary body, and choroid, and updating the material properties to reflect hyperelastic and viscoelastic behaviors. As we progressed, we continually compared and contrasted the experimental data with our model to refine it further and improve its accuracy.
As this was a new project, we were the first group to initiate and advance it. Our primary goals were to build and refine an initial model, collect preliminary data, and conduct initial trials. Meanwhile, we focused on ensuring that our work was thoroughly documented and easily replicable for future researchers, thereby laying a solid foundation for the project's continuation.
Throughout this project, I’ve come to appreciate the immense value of collaboration in advancing research. Our supervisors were highly supportive in connecting us with experts from various fields who offered specialised assistance.
This positive experience demonstrated to me how an encouraging academic environment can accelerate research progress and made me realise the importance of building a network of connections and being part of a supportive, collaborative environment.