معرفی
Dr Hannah Levis is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Eye and Vision Science at the University of Liverpool's School of Medicine. Her academic career bridges engineering principles with ophthalmological applications, focusing on novel tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies for ocular repair and disease treatment.
Dr Levis's research program centers on understanding ocular cells in their native niche to determine critical interactions with neighboring cells and the microenvironment. Her work aims to develop optimal culture environments for cell expansion, functional biomaterials for cell delivery, creation of biomimetic tissues, and in vitro models of ocular disease. Key research areas include:
- Tissue engineering approaches for corneal repair and regeneration
- Development of bio-synthetic corneal alternatives for transplantation
- Cell therapies for diabetic retinopathy using endothelial progenitor cells
- Investigation of corneal endothelial progenitor cells and their potential for repair
- Creation of in vitro models of ocular disease for therapeutic screening
Analysis of Dr Levis's recent publications reveals a strong translational focus with direct clinical applications in corneal transplantation and retinal disease treatment. Her work spans from fundamental biomaterials development to clinical evaluation of surgical techniques, demonstrating a comprehensive bench-to-bedside approach. The research shows particular emphasis on endothelial keratoplasty techniques, quality assurance in corneal transplants, and development of biomimetic models for disease study, with significant contributions to understanding corneal endothelial cell behavior and diabetic retinopathy mechanisms.
Dr Levis has secured multiple research grants as principal investigator from prestigious funding bodies including the Medical Research Council (current projects through 2027), Diabetes UK, and Fight for Sight. She actively collaborates with researchers including Rachel Williams (Engineering for Growth), Victoria Kearns, and Elizabeth Laird on interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of engineering and ophthalmology. Her current projects include "Corneal epithelial cell transfer to treat persistent epithelial defect" (MRC, 2024-2027) and "Bio-synthetic corneal endothelial grafts for transplantation" (MRC, 2022-2025).
As an educator, Dr Levis teaches on the Structural Biomaterials module in the School of Engineering and serves as Module Co-ordinator for "Clinical Trials Design and Governance." She supervises multiple PhD students including Jessica Eyre (investigating endothelial progenitor cells for diabetic retinopathy), Danielle O'Loughlin (developing bioengineered corneal stroma), and Rami Rasheed Alanazi. Her teaching portfolio spans Anterior Segment Clinical Ophthalmology, COVIS Research Modules, and Posterior Segment Clinical Ophthalmology. Dr Levis is an active member of professional organizations including the Tissue Cell and Engineering Society (TCES) and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), and serves as a MerseySTEM Ambassador.
