Involvement of the Human Retinal Endothelial Cell in Blinding Eye Disease. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels of the vascular networks that circulate blood through the tissues. The molecular constitution of each endothelial cell is different and specific to function, but may predispose to tissue-specific disease. Retinal endothelial cells ensure the nutrition and protection of a tissue critical to vision, but are key participants in retinal ischemic, inflammatory and infectious diseases th ....Involvement of the Human Retinal Endothelial Cell in Blinding Eye Disease. Endothelial cells line the blood vessels of the vascular networks that circulate blood through the tissues. The molecular constitution of each endothelial cell is different and specific to function, but may predispose to tissue-specific disease. Retinal endothelial cells ensure the nutrition and protection of a tissue critical to vision, but are key participants in retinal ischemic, inflammatory and infectious diseases that threaten vision. This project will investigate molecular activities of retinal endothelial cells that are relevant to retinal disease processes and explore future biological therapies directed against the human retinal endothelial cell that address efficacy and safety deficiencies of current treatments.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120101434
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
The role of outdoor activity in myopia development. It has recently been found that spending more time outdoors may reduce the risk of developing short sightedness. This project will examine the underlying basis of these associations and improve understanding of environmental factors involved in the cause of short sightedness, an eye problem that is a major cause of vision impairment globally.
Personalising the management of diabetes care in non-English speaking Australian adults with diabetic retinopathy. Reducing the public health burden of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy for non-English speaking Australians is a major challenge for health care providers, researchers, and health policy makers. In addition to improving self care, eye health, and quality of life, this intervention has considerable potential to deliver substantial savings to the Australian community. It will also pro ....Personalising the management of diabetes care in non-English speaking Australian adults with diabetic retinopathy. Reducing the public health burden of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy for non-English speaking Australians is a major challenge for health care providers, researchers, and health policy makers. In addition to improving self care, eye health, and quality of life, this intervention has considerable potential to deliver substantial savings to the Australian community. It will also provide a novel and valid diabetes management program and contribute to future health policies related to personnel, resources and funding allocated to diabetes, eye care, and rehabilitation. This project will raise the skill of existing diabetes educators and serve to generate closer coordination of care between tertiary eye care services and primary care settings.Read moreRead less
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.
Vision performance in relationship to spectacle lens design. Refractive errors such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness or presbyopia (age related decline in near vision) are the leading causes of visual impairment in the world. Of these, presbyopia affects almost 100% of the population above 45 years of age. This represents over 40% of all Australians. Although spectacles provide a safe and easy means of correcting refractive errors, they affect quality of life due to distorted vision, disco ....Vision performance in relationship to spectacle lens design. Refractive errors such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness or presbyopia (age related decline in near vision) are the leading causes of visual impairment in the world. Of these, presbyopia affects almost 100% of the population above 45 years of age. This represents over 40% of all Australians. Although spectacles provide a safe and easy means of correcting refractive errors, they affect quality of life due to distorted vision, discomfort such as head and neck ache and cosmetic effects. The goals of the project are to better understand the visual performance of young and old people who wear glasses and to develop improved spectacle lens designs to provide clear and comfortable vision over a range of distances.Read moreRead less
INcidence And Progression Of Retinal Microvascular Signs In An Older Australian Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$62,022.00
Summary
This project aims to investigate the evolution of retinal microvascular signs and associated factors in an older, general population. 1. To investigate the 5-year and the 10-year incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs in an older Australian population; 2. To relate the incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs to cardiovascular risk factors (a: age, blood pressure; b: metabolic factors such as BMI, lipids and glucose levels); 3. To investi ....This project aims to investigate the evolution of retinal microvascular signs and associated factors in an older, general population. 1. To investigate the 5-year and the 10-year incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs in an older Australian population; 2. To relate the incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs to cardiovascular risk factors (a: age, blood pressure; b: metabolic factors such as BMI, lipids and glucose levels); 3. To investigate the incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs in relation to inflammatory markers (white cell count, fibrinogen, hematocrit, platelet count); 4. To investigate the incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs in relation to medication use (a: anti-hypertensive medications; b: aspirin and other NSAIDs; c. steroid use); 5. To relate the incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs to specific lifestyle behaviours (alcohol consumption, smoking, exercise); 6. To investigate the incidence, progression and regression of retinal vascular wall signs and hormone replacement therapy use in women.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.
Harnessing contact lens design to optimise optics and vision through corneal refractive reshaping. Development of innovative OK lens designs to correct presbyopia and astigmatism, optimised for visual performance through manipulation of optical aberrations, will place Australian rigid contact lens manufacturing at the international forefront of OK lens production. Lens designs to control myopia progression will strategically position Australian lens manufacturing to capitalise on the potential m ....Harnessing contact lens design to optimise optics and vision through corneal refractive reshaping. Development of innovative OK lens designs to correct presbyopia and astigmatism, optimised for visual performance through manipulation of optical aberrations, will place Australian rigid contact lens manufacturing at the international forefront of OK lens production. Lens designs to control myopia progression will strategically position Australian lens manufacturing to capitalise on the potential market in Asia, where myopia is prevalent. Significant intellectual property will be generated for Australia through greater understanding of OK lens design manipulation to optimise visual outcomes. This project promises to enhance the international reputation of UNSW researchers, keeping Australian science at the forefront of this research area.Read moreRead less