Next-Generation Diagnostic Technologies for Tear Film Analysis

About the Project

Join an interdisciplinary project developing innovative tear-based diagnostics for Dry Eye Disease. Combining bioengineering, clinical diagnostics, pathology and patient involvement, this PhD offers the opportunity to create real-world healthcare technologies that improve diagnosis and patient care.

Project Background

Dry eye disease affects over 300 million people and significantly reduces visual comfort, stability, and quality of life. Despite its prevalence, current diagnostic methods such as Schirmer testing, tear osmolarity, and ocular surface staining remain semi‑quantitative, poorly reproducible, and are weakly correlated with clinical symptoms. This leads to empirical treatment approaches and inconsistent outcomes. There is an urgent need for quantitative, objective, and accessible diagnostic tools that can stratify and resolve disease subtypes, and hence guide personalised management.

This project aims to develop a point‑of‑care biosensor capable of detection of key tear film biomarkers from very small tear samples representative of routine clinical practice.

What you will do

In this laboratory-based and clinically-informed project, you will integrate microfabrication, electrochemical biosensing, and clinical sample validation.

You will:

• Optimise tear collection and extraction methods (e.g. Schirmer strips)
• Develop and test miniaturised biosensors for biomarker detection
• Validate performance using synthetic and human tear samples
• Benchmark the technology against existing clinical diagnostic methods

You will also engage with patients and clinicians to understand current diagnostic challenges and ensure that the technology is aligned with clinical needs and workflows.

Training and Collaboration

You will be supervised by a multidisciplinary team comprising two bioengineers (Victoria Kearns and Sanjiv Sharma), an ophthalmologist (Nardine Menassa) and an ophthalmic pathologist (Yamini Krishna), giving you support on all technical and clinical aspects of this project. The supervisory team will provide project-specific hands-on training as needed and will follow a Development Needs Analysis. This will include lab inductions, health and safety training, seminars, public engagement opportunities, and journal clubs. As a member of the Liverpool Doctoral College, a wide range of additional training resources will be available.

Our existing partnership with St Paul’s Eye Unit and Liverpool Clinical Laboratories will enable you to meet patients, clinicians and biomedical scientists. The Liverpool Research Eye Bank will supply patient tear samples. You will receive training in a range of areas, including sensor fabrication, ethical handling of human tissue and Patient and Public Involvement. You will be part of two larger research groups in the departments of Eye and Vision Science and Pharmacology & Therapeutics, giving you exposure to a broad range of experiences.

Potential Impact

An accurate biosensor to quantify tear biomarkers could enable clinicians to select more effective, targeted therapies for patients with dry eye disease, reduce unnecessary treatment changes, and support the design of future interventional trials. Ultimately, this work aims to improve patient treatment and outcomes by enabling precise and personalised disease management.

Application is via CV and cover letter to Dr Victoria Kearns vkearns@liverpool.ac.uk.