Jalilian Lab
Addressing the critical clinical need for therapies that can effectively promote rapid regeneration of corneal peripheral nerves and minimize vision loss in patients with corneal diseases.
Our ultimate goal is to enhance our understanding of corneal nerve regeneration and identify effective therapeutic strategies for patients with corneal diseases. By unraveling the therapeutic specificity of MSC-derived EVs and investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms, we hope to contribute to the development of novel treatments that can restore damaged corneal nerves and potentially address other neurological ocular conditions.
Two Focus Areas Heading link
Therapeutic specificity of extracellular vesicles (EVs)
We are conducting in-depth investigations into the therapeutic potential of two distinct sources of extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow and corneal mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). These EVs will be evaluated for their ability to promote nerve regeneration in murine corneas, both in vitro and in vivo. By studying the regenerative effects of these EVs, we aim to understand their specific impact on corneal nerves and their potential as targeted therapies.
Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways
Additionally, our research involves an in- depth analysis of the cargo carried by the two types of MSC-derived EVs. Through transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, we aim to identify the specific components within these EVs that contribute to their neuroregenerative effects. By elucidating the molecular mechanisms and downstream signaling pathways involved in the regenerative response of nerve cells, we seek to uncover targetable molecules that can facilitate neuroregeneration in various clinical applications.
Lab Director Heading link
Lab Publications Heading link
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Recent Publications
Soleimani M, Baharnoori SM, Massoumi H, Cheraqpour K, Asadigandomani H, Mirzaei A, Ashraf MJ, Koganti R, Chaudhuri M, Ghassemi M, Jalilian E, Djalilian AR. A deep dive into radiation keratopathy; Going beyond the current frontierss. Exp Eye Res. 2025 Feb;251:110234. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2025.110234. Epub 2025 Jan 6. PubMed PMID: 39778671.
Pedersen C, Chen VT, Herbst P, Zhang R, Elfert A, Krishan A, Azar DT, Chang JH, Hu WY, Kremsmayer TP, Jalilian E, Djalilian AR, Guaiquil VH, Rosenblatt MI. Target specification and therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles for regulating corneal angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and nerve repair. Ocul Surf. 2024 Oct;34:459-476. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2024.10.005. Epub 2024 Oct 18. Review. PubMed PMID: 39426677.
Amin S, Massoumi H, Tewari D, Roy A, Chaudhuri M, Jazayerli C, Krishan A, Singh M, Soleimani M, Karaca EE, Mirzaei A, Guaiquil VH, Rosenblatt MI, Djalilian AR, Jalilian E. Cell Type-Specific Extracellular Vesicles and Their Impact on Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Feb 27;25(5). doi: 10.3390/ijms25052730. Review. PubMed PMID: 38473976; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10931654.
Soleimani M, Mirshahi R, Cheraqpour K, Baharnoori SM, Massoumi H, Chow C, Shahjahan S, Momenaei B, Ashraf MJ, Koganti R, Ghassemi M, Anwar KN, Jalilian E, Djalilian AR. Intrastromal versus subconjunctival injection of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells for promoting corneal repair. Ocul Surf. 2023 Oct;30:187-195. doi: 10.1016/j.jtos.2023.09.008. Epub 2023 Sep 25. PubMed PMID: 37758115; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10841412.
Massoumi H, Katz E, Guaiquil VH, Rosenblatt M, Djalilian AR, Jalilian E. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from 3D cultured human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSC) demonstrated increased complexity and neurite elongation in an in-vivo corneal injury model. Investigative ophthalmology and visual science. 2023 June; 64(8).
Massoumi H, Amin S, Soleimani M, Momenaei B, Ashraf MJ, Guaiquil VH, Hematti P, Rosenblatt MI, Djalilian AR, Jalilian E. Extracellular-Vesicle-Based Therapeutics in Neuro- Ophthalmic Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 19;24(10). doi: 10.3390/ijms24109006. Review. PubMed PMID: 37240353; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10219002.
Yazdanpanah G, Jalilian E, Shen X, Anwar KN, Jiang Y, Jabbehdari S, Rosenblatt MI, Pan Y, Djalilian AR. The effect of decellularization protocols on characterizations of thermoresponsive and light-curable corneal extracellular matrix hydrogels. Sci Rep. 2023 May 19;13(1):8145. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35202-8. PubMed PMID: 37208411; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10199007.
Jalilian E, Shin SR. Novel model of cortical-meningeal organoid co-culture system improves human cortical brain organoid cytoarchitecture. Sci Rep. 2023 May 14;13(1):7809. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35077-9. PubMed PMID: 37183210; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10183460.
Jalilian E, Massoumi H, Bigit B, Amin S, Katz EA, Guaiquil VH, Anwar KN, Hematti P, Rosenblatt MI, Djalilian AR. Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells in a 3D system produce higher concentration of extracellular vesicles (EVs) with increased complexity and enhanced neuronal growth properties. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2022 Aug 19;13(1):425. doi: 10.1186/s13287-022-03128-z. PubMed PMID: 35986305; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9389821.
Amin S, Jalilian E, Katz E, Frank C, Yazdanpanah G, Guaiquil VH, Rosenblatt MI, Djalilian AR. The Limbal Niche and Regenerative Strategies. Vision (Basel). 2021 Sep 22;5(4). doi: 10.3390/vision5040043. Review. PubMed PMID: 34698278; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8544688.
Yazdanpanah G, Jiang Y, Jabbehdari S, Jalilian E, Naba A, Djalilian AR. Rheological and Proteomics Characterization of Thermoresponsive Hydrogel from Porcine Cornea Extracellular Matrix for Corneal Tissue Engineering Purposes. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2021 June; 62(8):872.
Jalilian E, Putra I, Katz E, Guaiquil VH, Anwar K, Rosenblatt M, Djalilian AR. Interactions between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and trigeminal ganglion (TGs) improve neurite growth and elongation. Investigative ophthalmology & visual sceineces. 2021 June; 62(8).
Katz E, Guaiquil VH, Jalilian E, Rosenblatt M, Djalilian AR. Exosomes as a Novel Multitarget Approach to Promote Growth of Corneal Sensory Neurons. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 2021 June; 62(8).
Jalilian E, Xu Q, Horton L, Reddy S, Gelovani , Avanaki K. Get Full-text@UIC Small nanoparticle aggregation‐enhanced radiomics of tumor (SMART)‐OCT imaging for melanoma detection: an in vitro study. Photonics in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery 2021. 2021 March; 11618:1161819.
Hessler M, Jalilian E, Xu Q, Reddy S, Horton L, Elkin K, Manwar R, Tsoukas M, Mehregan D, Avanaki K. Melanoma Biomarkers and Their Potential Application for In Vivo Diagnostic Imaging Modalities. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Dec 16;21(24). doi: 10.3390/ijms21249583. Review. PubMed PMID: 33339193; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7765677.
Jalilian E, Elkin K, Shin SR. Novel Cell-Based and Tissue Engineering Approaches for Induction of Angiogenesis as an Alternative Therapy for Diabetic Retinopathy. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 May 15;21(10). doi: 10.3390/ijms21103496. Review. PubMed PMID: 32429094; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7278952.
Jalilian E, Xu Q, Horton L, Fotouhi A, Reddy S, Manwar R, Daveluy S, Mehregan D, Gelovani J, Avanaki K. Contrast-enhanced optical coherence tomography for melanoma detection: An in vitro study. J Biophotonics. 2020 May;13(5):e201960097. doi: 10.1002/jbio.201960097. Epub 2020 Feb 26. PubMed PMID: 32072773.
Xu Q, Jalilian E, Fakhoury JW, Manwar R, Michniak-Kohn B, Elkin KB, Avanaki K. Monitoring the topical delivery of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles using optical coherence tomography. Skin Res Technol. 2020 Mar;26(2):263-268. doi: 10.1111/srt.12789. Epub 2019 Sep 25. PubMed PMID: 31556193; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7058498.
Hemmatian Z, Jalilian E, Lee S, Strakosas X, Khademhosseini A, Almutairi A, Shin SR, Rolandi M. Delivery of Cargo with a Bioelectronic Trigger. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2018 Jul 5;10(26):21782-21787. doi: 10.1021/acsami.8b02724. Epub 2018 Jun 21. PubMed PMID: 29905062.
Saghazadeh S, Rinoldi C, Schot M, Kashaf SS, Sharifi F, Jalilian E, Nuutila K, Giatsidis G, Mostafalu P, Derakhshandeh H, Yue K, Swieszkowski W, Memic A, Tamayol A, Khademhosseini A. Drug delivery systems and materials for wound healing applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2018 Mar 1;127:138-166. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.04.008. Epub 2018 Apr 5. Review. PubMed PMID: 29626550; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6003879.
Massa S, Sakr MA, Seo J, Bandaru P, Arneri A, Bersini S, Zare-Eelanjegh E, Jalilian E, Cha BH, Antona S, Enrico A, Gao Y, Hassan S, Acevedo JP, Dokmeci MR, Zhang YS, Khademhosseini A, Shin SR. Bioprinted 3D vascularized tissue model for drug toxicity analysis. Biomicrofluidics. 2017 Jul;11(4):044109. doi: 10.1063/1.4994708. eCollection 2017 Jul. PubMed PMID: 28852429; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5552405.
Jalilian E. Characterization of progenitors of endothelial cells (PECs). UCL (University College London). 2017 July.
Jalilian E, Sim D, Coffey P, Fruttiger M. Isolation Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) cells. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2015 June; 56(7):1830.
Jalilian E, Powner MB, Fruttiger M. Tip cell signalling in Endothelial Cells. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 2014 June; 55(13).
News Heading link
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Best Poster Award in Spring Scholarly Symposium 2024
Hamed was awarded the Best Poster Award at the 2024 Spring Scholarly Symposium hosted by the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary. His presentation highlighted innovative research in nerve regeneration and therapeutic delivery strategies. This award recognizes outstanding scientific communication and research excellence among emerging scholars.Fellowship Match at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute
We are thrilled to share that Madhurima Choudhuri has successfully matched into a Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus Fellowship at the prestigious Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. This highly competitive one-year clinical fellowship offers outstanding training and robust research opportunities. Madhurima will have the unique opportunity to train under world-renowned leaders in the field, including Dr. David Guyton and Dr. Michael Repka. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and excited to see her continue to sharpen her medical and surgical skills to advance patient care. Congratulations, Madhurima!
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Cover Article in The International Journal of Molecular Sciences
In March 2024, a review paper by the Jalilian Lab, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (impact factor 5.6), was chosen as the volume’s cover article. Additionally, the paper’s comprehensive design on Exosome Generation and its Clinical Research was selected as the volume’s cover image.
Read the paper: “Cell Type-Specific Extracellular Vesicles and Their Impact on Health and Disease”.
Second Place at the UIC Biomedical Engineering Symposium
On March 8, 2024, Hamed Massoumi participated in the 6th Annual Biomedical Engineering Symposium hosted by the Richard and Loan Hill Department of Biomedical Engineering. This symposium allows undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellows to showcase their research through posters or oral presentations. A panel of judges evaluated participants in each category, selecting the top three finalists. Hamed Massoumi achieved second place in the graduate poster presentation category.
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MD Program Admission
The Jalilian Lab is thrilled to share the achievement of our undergraduate student, Abhi Krishan, who has been admitted into UIC’s MD program, set to start after he finishes his Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering this spring! Abhi looks forward to being a part of our lab for the next four years, while also learning as much as he can to serve his community as a future ophthalmologist. Join us in celebrating his incredible milestone!
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Women In Medicine Summit
Madhurima Chaudhuri, MD (Ophthalmologist and research scholar) had an amazing experience presenting at the Women In Medicine Summit 2023 held at The Drake Hotel, Chicago in September. She presented the lab’s work on “Evaluating the effects of exosomes obtained from 3D cultured human bone marrow mesenchymal cells on nerve regeneration in a rodent wounded cornea model”. Dr. Chaudhuri got the chance to advocate our lab findings to physicians, graduate students and researchers from all over the country, and exchange ideas on the field with some amazing professionals. Meeting esteemed figures and forming meaningful connections with women physicians and scientists was nothing short of inspiring for her!
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LASURI Scholarship
Cedra Jazayerli has been honored with the LASURI Scholarship for her project, titled “The Impact of Nerve Regeneration in the Presence of Extracellular Vesicles.” This prestigious scholarship, sponsored by UIC Honors College, includes a tuition scholarship and a lab stipend to support the student’s experience in the lab. This recognition highlights the invaluable mentorship provided by Dr. Jalilian and will culminate in an exciting presentation of Cedra’s research at the UIC Undergraduate Research Forum in April.
Positions Available Heading link
Post-doctoral Fellow, PhD, Research Specialist and Visiting Scholar positions are available:
Applicants with backgrounds in cellular and molecular biology, neuroscience, biostatistics, stem cell biology, medical students and ophthalmology are preferred. Applicants who aim to visit for more than 6 months will be considered. A recently updated CV and two references are required. Source of funding should be clearly stated.
Applicants who are interested should send the CV to Dr. Jalilian (Jalilian@uic.edu or Elmira.Jalilian@gmail.com)