Using visual science to reduce the dangers of night driving. This project aims to develop novel tests of visual function relevant to the modern night driving environment. Night driving is challenging for all drivers and has been linked to poor visibility under low light conditions. This project will characterise the visual challenges of the modern night driving environment, develop visual tests that incorporate the dynamic light levels typical of night-time roads and assess the association of th ....Using visual science to reduce the dangers of night driving. This project aims to develop novel tests of visual function relevant to the modern night driving environment. Night driving is challenging for all drivers and has been linked to poor visibility under low light conditions. This project will characterise the visual challenges of the modern night driving environment, develop visual tests that incorporate the dynamic light levels typical of night-time roads and assess the association of these tests with night driving performance. The outcomes will contribute new knowledge regarding dynamic visual processing and the ageing visual system and will inform vision testing, potential interventions to improve visual function for night driving and reduce the dangers of night driving.Read moreRead less
Centre-surround interactions in ageing human vision. Australia has a rapidly ageing population. This project will study how ageing affects the visual perception of objects presented on non-uniform backgrounds. Our ability to discriminate objects from their backgrounds is key to most natural visual tasks. The visual processes involved are known as centre-surround interactions, and are considered fundamental building blocks to human perception. This project will significantly advance our knowledge ....Centre-surround interactions in ageing human vision. Australia has a rapidly ageing population. This project will study how ageing affects the visual perception of objects presented on non-uniform backgrounds. Our ability to discriminate objects from their backgrounds is key to most natural visual tasks. The visual processes involved are known as centre-surround interactions, and are considered fundamental building blocks to human perception. This project will significantly advance our knowledge of which spatial visual mechanisms are altered due to age, supplying key information for understanding and improving visual environments for the elderly, as well as increasing knowledge of the brain mechanisms susceptible to the ageing process.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100099
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,575.00
Summary
The importance of glia in the development of healthy blood vessels in the eye. The formation of healthy blood vessels in the eye is critical for vision. An important peptide in blood vessel formation throughout the body, including the eye, is Angiotensin II. Specific retinal cells named astrocytes and microglia are suggested to be involved in vessel formation. However, the way these cells control this formation is unknown. Using innovative techniques, this project will investigate how retinal as ....The importance of glia in the development of healthy blood vessels in the eye. The formation of healthy blood vessels in the eye is critical for vision. An important peptide in blood vessel formation throughout the body, including the eye, is Angiotensin II. Specific retinal cells named astrocytes and microglia are suggested to be involved in vessel formation. However, the way these cells control this formation is unknown. Using innovative techniques, this project will investigate how retinal astrocytes and microglia control glial-vascular communication and blood vessel formation via Angiotensin II. The information gained from this proposal is critical to our understanding of both normal retinal development and blood vessel maintenance in both infants and those of older ages.Read moreRead less
Thalamic inputs and cortical microcircuitry underlying the functional architecture of the visual cortex. This project seeks to reveal the fundamental circuitry of the visual cortex that enables visual perception. Such understanding is essential not only for explaining many perceptual disturbances, but also for providing a neuronal basis for developing functionally useful prostheses for the blind.
Neural plasticity in older adult human vision. This project aims to expand our understanding of age related changes in brain function, specifically plasticity. The project will increase knowledge of the role of an inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA in visual plasticity. Expected outcomes include new knowledge regarding the regulation of brain function in adulthood, enabling future research and planning for societal benefit to older Australia.
Understanding progressive vision loss in the eye disease glaucoma. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible vision loss in elderly Australians, although determining treatment failure is currently very dif?cult. This project will radically improve the measurement of glaucoma progression and treatment failure. We will also address fundamental questions regarding how glaucoma destroys vision.
Dynamic ocular imaging: New tools to study neurodegenerative disease. Neurovascular uncoupling occurs when blood supply and energy production is no longer responsive to the metabolic of nervous tissue. Neurovascular uncoupling is thought to be a key mechanism in the development of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma. This project will be the first study to develop, validate and employ a comprehensive suite to simultaneously image blood flow, oxygen sa ....Dynamic ocular imaging: New tools to study neurodegenerative disease. Neurovascular uncoupling occurs when blood supply and energy production is no longer responsive to the metabolic of nervous tissue. Neurovascular uncoupling is thought to be a key mechanism in the development of debilitating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma. This project will be the first study to develop, validate and employ a comprehensive suite to simultaneously image blood flow, oxygen saturation, metabolic activity and retinal function to understand neurovascular uncoupling in aging and age-related neurodegeneration. Read moreRead less
Using the eye as a window to the central nervous system for improved drug testing. The annual cost of treating brain illnesses is US$250 billion. Each new drug costs about US$900 million to develop. This research will give Pfizer Pty Ltd, the project’s industry partner, a more efficient and direct way of testing whether drugs can get into and affect the brain. This will reduce the cost of drug development, which ultimately means cheaper drugs. The project will develop new technologies to put Aus ....Using the eye as a window to the central nervous system for improved drug testing. The annual cost of treating brain illnesses is US$250 billion. Each new drug costs about US$900 million to develop. This research will give Pfizer Pty Ltd, the project’s industry partner, a more efficient and direct way of testing whether drugs can get into and affect the brain. This will reduce the cost of drug development, which ultimately means cheaper drugs. The project will develop new technologies to put Australia at the forefront of neuropharmaceutical and neuroscience research. A new research platform will foster collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry both within Australia and overseas. This industrial link will promote a unique post-graduate experience by providing exposure to academic and industrial environments for Australian scientists.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101931
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Functional imaging with cellular resolution in the living eye. Adaptive optics allows the visualisation of individual cells and capillaries in the living human eye. This project will use adaptive optics to explore the normal function of these microscopic objects, and how this function changes in eyes suffering from disease. This will aid in developing new ways to diagnose and treat debilitating eye diseases.
New, Efficient Tests That Map Both Central and Peripheral Vision. This project seeks to develop a new, combined approach for quantifying both central and peripheral vision with a single test. Current methods for testing far peripheral vision are not efficient and not fully automated. Yet peripheral vision is important for tasks involving navigation and hazard avoidance such as driving. The project intends to invent and test new approaches to sampling and measuring the spatial extent of vision. T ....New, Efficient Tests That Map Both Central and Peripheral Vision. This project seeks to develop a new, combined approach for quantifying both central and peripheral vision with a single test. Current methods for testing far peripheral vision are not efficient and not fully automated. Yet peripheral vision is important for tasks involving navigation and hazard avoidance such as driving. The project intends to invent and test new approaches to sampling and measuring the spatial extent of vision. The anticipated algorithms will be more accurate and efficient than current tests, will be suitable for older adults, and will enable ready assessment of vision for occupational tasks.Read moreRead less