Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a major and increasing health-care problem due to its high prevalence and economic burden. Prevalence data reveals that 5 to 35% of the world adult’s population suffer from DED. It is more common in an older population and three times more frequent in women (7.8% in women older than 49 versus 2.3% in males). As people are living longer, DED is becoming more prevalent. Moreover, experts expect that the prevalence in the younger population will increase due to frequent computer and tablet screen usage, environmental factors and wearing of contact lenses. Currently, DED management is based on disease severity and it includes the use of tear substitutes, punctual plugs, autologous serum derivatives, anti-inflammatory therapy, and environmental strategies.

IT-DED³ will deliver entrepreneurial and innovative researchers able to face future challenges and to convert new ideas into therapeutic products for DED. This is possible through the integration of expertise in medicinal chemistry, process chemistry, ocular drug delivery and formulation, ocular biology, in vitro and in vivo evaluation and imaging, biomarker research and clinical ophthalmology.

IT-DED³ excludes the European Research Executive Agency of responsibility for any communication and any dissemination of results - in compliance with the art. 38.1.3 and 29.5 of the grant agreement 765608.