Dr Muhaiyo Bartolo, a specialist resident in Ophthalmology at Mater Dei Hospital and a PhD student at the Department of Applied Biomedical Science, University of Malta, delivered an oral presentation at the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Congress 2025, held in Lisbon, Portugal between 7 and 9 June 2025.
The SOE Congress is one of the leading international forums for cutting-edge developments in ophthalmology, attracting clinicians, researchers, and industry experts from across Europe and beyond. Dr Bartolo’s presentation formed part of a highly competitive scientific programme highlighting emerging research in ophthalmic science and innovation.
Dr Bartolo presented a talk titled “Differentially Expressed Genes of Human Lens Epithelial Cells in Different Stages of Diabetic Retinopathy,” summarising key preliminary findings from her PhD work, which focuses on molecular changes in the anterior segment of the eye in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Her study employs next-generation RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes linked to inflammation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis in diabetic eyes.
The data presented were generated through RNA sequencing analysis of anterior capsule samples collected during cataract surgery. The aim of this research is to uncover novel molecular pathways contributing to diabetic ocular complications and to identify potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Dr Bartolo has also presented aspects of this research at the European Society of Human Genetics 2025 and the University of Malta Research Expo 2025. Her PhD project further involves collaboration with the Medical University of Bialystok in Poland, where metabolomic analysis of aqueous humour samples is currently underway.
Participation in the SOE Congress marks an important milestone in the dissemination of Dr Bartolo’s research and paves the way for future collaborations in ophthalmic molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.
Dr Bartolo is supervised by, Prof. Rosienne Farrugia, Prof. Jean Paul Ebejer, and Mr Franco Mercieca. Her PhD work is partially supported by a TESS Scholarship grant.
