Anmol Sandhu: Faces of the umbilical cord

This image showcases various umbilical cord cross-sections that I have sectioned and stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), then captured using the Zeiss Axio Observer inverted microscope using with the Axiocam 506 camera. The cross-sections strikingly resemble a face, with the arteries resembling eyes and the vein mimicking a mouth. In my research, I am isolating human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from the vein—identified as the 'mouth' in these images—and utilizing them to repair the cornea of the human eye. I am differentiating the HUVECs into corneal endothelial cells to facilitate corneal endothelial cell replacement therapy for patients suffering from corneal endothelial damage. Corneal endothelial damage is a leading cause of blindness, and currently, the only effective treatment option is corneal transplantation. However, the shortage of donor corneal tissue highlights the urgent need for innovative cell therapies to repair the corneal endothelium.