Dr Shiwani Sharma

Academic Status

College of Medicine and Public Health

place Bedford Park (4D:322)
GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

Dr Shiwani Sharma has been pursuing ophthalmic research in the College of Medicine and Public Health for more than twenty years. Her research focuses on decipehring molecular mechanisms underlying simple and complex genetic eye diseases. She has undertaken research in multiple corneal dystrophies, inherited and age-related cataract and glaucoma. Her research has been published in leading scientific journals such as Nature Genetics, Nature Communications, American Journal of Human Genetics, Human Molecular Genetics and Journal of Cell Science. She has presented her reesearch at international and national conferences, including meetings of the International Society for Eye Research, Asia and Oceania Society for Photobiology, and Australian Society of Biochemists and Molecular Biologists, as an invited speaker.

Qualifications
  • PhD; Punjab Agricultural University, India
  • MSc; Punjab Agricultural University, India
  • BSc; Guru Nanak Dev University, India
Honours, awards and grants

Senior Research Fellowship, CSIR (India); 1989-1991

Junior Research Fellowship, CSIR (India); 1987-1989

University Merit Scholarship during Master's Program; 1986-1987

Key responsibilities
  • Initiating and leading research projects
  • Research student training and research staff supervision
  • Research Administration
  • Teaching medical science
  • College of Medicine and Public Health Animal Ethics Review Sub-committee Member
  • Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee Member
Teaching interests

Physiology of the human eye and pathophysiology of human eye diseases.

Application of molecular and cell bioloigy methodologies in biomedical research.

Topic lecturer
MMED1005 How Your Body Works
MMED8937 Pathophysiology for Medical Science
MMED3937 Pathophysiology for Medical Science
Supervisory interests
Animal models of eye diseases
Interaction between genetic and environmental factors in eye diseases
Molecular basis of eye diseases
Therapeutic strategies for eye diseases
Higher degree by research supervision
Current
Associate supervisor: Glaucoma genetics (1), Diabetic retinopathy (-1)
Completion
Principal supervisor: Genetics and molecular biology of Fuchs' corneal dystrophy (1), Molecular biology of congenital cataract (1), Corneal dystrophy (1), Congenital cataract (-2)
Associate supervisor: Biophysical studies in Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (1), Genetics of congenital cataracts (1)
Higher degree by research student achievements
Alpana Dave

Vice-Chancellor’s Prize for Doctoral Thesis Excellence - APR 2016

Further information

Interested in

  • prevention and/or better management of eye diseases
  • increasing public awareness about common eye diseases
  • developing cost-effective treatment/ management strategies for eye diseases

Current Research Projects for RHD Students (pptx)

Honours Research Projects for 2017 (pptx)