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South East Technological University (SETU) PhD candidate Dorsa Golestaneh has been awarded the Career Development Award from Fighting Blindness, a patient-led charity dedicated to finding treatments and cures for blindness.

Dorsa is a researcher in the Ocular Therapeutics Research Group at SETU’s Waterford campus. Her interdisciplinary PhD research focuses on developing patient-centred nano-formulations to address Dry Eye Disease (DED), a condition that significantly impacts quality of life. By combining nanotechnology-based drug delivery with patient and public involvement (PPI), her work aims to create innovative, preclinical-stage treatments tailored to the needs of patients and care providers.

This research integrates longitudinal patient interviews with comprehensive literature reviews to gain deeper insights into the experiences and challenges of those living with DED. The goal is to develop effective, patient-driven solutions that improve treatment outcomes.

I am extremely passionate about this research as it directly addresses the treatment needs of individuals with Dry Eye Disease. This award will enable me to attend EUDEC 2025, the European Dry Eye Society Congress, where I will connect with leading international experts. Engaging with global researchers and learning about the latest advancements in ocular drug delivery will provide valuable insights to enhance my work at SETU. It will also help promote the visibility of patient and public involvement in vision research.

Dorsa Golestaneh
OTRG at SETU

OTRG at SETU

Dorsa is a member of the team at SETU's Ocular Therapeutics Research Group (OTRG) at SETU. A cohort within the Pharmaceutical Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC), the OTRG is focused primarily on the development and production of novel therapeutics to treat various chronic and acute diseases of the eye. The work of the OTRG is aimed at improving patient outcomes and quality of life issues for a range of ophthalmic conditions. 

Dorsa Golestaneh (left), pictured with her OTRG team in 2024.

Fighting Blindness

According to Fighting Blindness, who granted the Career Development Award to Dorsa, "Supporting the next generation of vision researchers is a key focus for Fighting Blindness. We recognise the importance of training, networking, and building collaborations in advancing the careers of early-stage researchers and clinicians."

Research Impact 

SETU Vice President for Research, Innovation and Impact, Prof. Marie Claire Van Hout congratulated Dorsa, by saying "This award is a testament to Dorsa’s dedication to advancing patient-centred research in ocular therapeutics. At SETU, we are committed to supporting researchers whose work makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. We are incredibly proud of Dorsa’s achievement and look forward to the impact her research will have in the field".