Projects

 

The Flinders Centre for Ophthalmology, Eye and Vision Research operates a number of research programmes, the over-arching goals of which are to improve the outcomes for patients suffering from common, blinding eye conditions. Blindness is associated with major physical, psychological and economic hardships for the sufferer.

1. Gene therapy to improve corneal graft survival

The goal of our work is to improve outcomes for patients who are blind or seriously visually impaired as a result of corneal disease. Such patients can regain vision through a corneal transplant, but many such transplants fail. A corneal graft may fail because of an unwanted immune response, because blood vessels grow into the graft, or because some corneal cells die. We plan to transfer genes to the donor cornea in the laboratory, prior to corneal transplantation, to avoid such failure.

Staff recently or currently working on aspects of the project include:
Professor Williams
Dr Brereton
Professor Coster
A/Pr Sonja Klebe
Dr Douglas Parker
A/Pr Donald Anson
Ms Mortimer
Mrs Kirk

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2. The role of genetic and environmental factors in cataract.

In cataract the clear lens in the eye becomes opaque causing blindness. Cataract is very common in the elderly, but is rarely also seen in babies and children. In babies certain gene defects, and in the elderly the genes and environmental factors contribute to cataract. The EPHA2 gene causes cataract in both young and old people. This project aims to understand how EPHA2 and other related genes cause cataract in young and old people, to prevent, delay or improve its treatment in the future.

Staff recently or currently working on aspects of the project include
Dr Sharma
Dr Burdon
A/Pr Craig
Professor Mackey
Dr de Iongh
A/Pr Di Girolamo
A/Pr Casson
Professor Gecz
Dr Kumar
Professor McAvoy