Using New Retinal Imaging Technologies To Improve Treatment And Classification Of Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$227,644.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. This project aims to use new ways of imaging changes in the back of the eye to try to improve the treatment and diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy.
Epidemiological And Molecular Risk Factors For Diabetic Retinopathy Blindness.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$61,988.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in working age adults, affecting 30% of Australians with diabetes. Patients at most risk of blindness are the focus of this project. We aim to (1) investigate why some people are more likely to develop blinding DR by looking at genetic difference between diabetic patients with and without DR; and, (2) help to understand why Indigenous Australians are so over represented in this subset of diabetic patients going blind from DR.
Molecular Genetic Risk Factors And Mechanisms In Blinding Eye Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
This project aims to understand the genetic causes of blinding eye diseases. We have recently identified genetic variation that contributes to the risk of glaucoma and diabetic eye disease. We are exploring the mechanisms through which this leads to disease by looking at differences in the genes in patients with disease compared to unaffected individuals. We hope to be able to identify genes that could be the target of new therapies to prevent blindness and visual impairment in the community.
A Genome-wide Association Scan To Identify Genetic Risk Factors For Sight Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$982,203.00
Summary
Diabetic eye disease is an important complication of diabetes that can lead to blindness. Very little is known about how diabetes causes eye disease, but genetics is known to play a role. We aim to identify genes that contribute to eye disease in diabetes patients. We will compare genes between patients with diabetes with and without severe diabetic eye disease using cutting edge genomic technology. We hope to be able to better predict risk of blindness and to move towards novel treatments.
The Influence Of Aqueous And Plasma Cytokines In Treatment Outcomes For Diabetic Macular Oedema
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,384.00
Summary
Diabetic macular oedema (DME) is the commonest cause of central visual loss in diabetics and has been linked to increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye. DME is treated with anti-VEGF injections, but these need to be repeated, with some patients failing to respond. We plan to see if levels of VEGF and other inflammatory markers will predict treatment response, so those unlikely to respond can be spared futile treatment and receive alternative treatment earlier.
Regulation Of Bone Marrow Progenitor Cells For Diabetic Retinopathy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$442,930.00
Summary
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in the working population of developed countries. Current treatments cannot restore the retinal vascular damage in DR. This project intends to combat DR by repairing the damaged retinal vasculature through short- and long-term regulations of the function of bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells. Success in this project would potentially have a major impact on all diabetic vascular complications.
Anti-vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-B As A Biologic For Treating Eye Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$464,295.00
Summary
We plan to show that an engineered antibody fragment against vascular endothelial growth factor-B is an effective therapeutic drug for two eye diseases, corneal neovascularization and age-related macular degeneration. The innovative aspects of this approach are that it may be safer, and have a different spectrum of activity, than existing ophthalmic anti-angiogenic agents. Furthermore, it may be effective for corneal disease when administered as an eye-drop.