Uveitis

Uveitis is an inflammatory disease that involves the tissues inside the eye. It encompasses infections, non-infectious immune-mediated conditions, and lymphoma masquerading as inflammation.

Our researchers work in the laboratory to investigate disease mechanisms and with clinicians to understand the best management approaches for different types of uveitis.

Our research

We’re at the forefront of the global quest to greater understand and improve treatment of intraocular inflammatory disease. A strong focus of our research includes the parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Members of our team collaborate on international projects relating to the long-term ophthalmological effects that may be experienced following infection with viruses such as Ebola.

Further research examines the involvement of adhesion molecules in the development of noninfectious forms of the disease.

Featured publications

Shantha JG, Crozier I, Varkey JB, et al. Long-term Management of Panuveitis and Iris Heterochromia in an Ebola Survivor. Ophthalmology. 2016 Dec; 123(12):2626-2628.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.07.013. Epub 2016 Sep 1. No abstract available.
Faridi A, Yeh S, Suhler EB, et al. Retinal detachment associated with ocular toxoplasmosis. Retina. 2015 Feb; 35(2):358-63. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000000279.
Bharadwaj AS, Stempel AJ, Olivas A, et al. Molecular Signals Involved in Human B Cell Migration into the Retina: In Vitro Investigation of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and CXCL13. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2016 Jul 5:1-9. [Epub ahead of print].

Funders / partners

Funding provided through a Flinders University top-up grant: Toxoplasma gondii infection of human retinal pigment.

Funding provided through the National Health and Medical Research Council:

1066235 Toxoplasma gondii Infection of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium
1123684 Regulation of ICAM-1 Expression in Human Retinal Endothelial Cells.

Funding provided through the Australia Research Council: Molecular activities of retinal endothelial cells, retinal disease processes, biological therapies to address efficacy and safety deficiencies of current treatments.

Research projets

New treatments for uveitis: Laboratory studies searching for new drug targets for treatment of uveitis. The work is focusing in on cytokines and other proteins involved in inflammatory processes inside the eye.

Practice patterns in the uveitis clinic: A multi-faceted collaborative effort to establish and disseminate current expert recommendations for the care of different types of uveitis.

Mechanisms of intraocular infection: A laboratory-based research program that seeks to discover how different microorganisms - such as Toxoplasma and Treponema - cause disease inside the eye.

International vitreoretinal lymphoma registry: International registry project that seeks to optimise the approach to this rare eye cancer by expediting research evidence into best clinical practice.

Research team

Professor Justine Smith, Group Lead

Professor Justine Smith is a Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor at Flinders University and Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist at Flinders Medical Centre. An internationally recognised expert in uveitis, her research has advanced understanding of infectious and non-infectious eye inflammation, informed the use of biologic drugs to prevent vision loss, and extended to ocular infections and cancers. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and Chair of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis, Justine has been honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia and is a strong advocate for women in science.