Clinical Trial Of Intravitreal Injections Of Dexamethasone Vs Bevacizumab In Diabetic Foveal Oedema Resistant To Laser
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$336,398.00
Summary
Diabetic macular oedema (swelling in the back of the eye) occurs in 20% of patients who have had diabetes for 10 years, and causes progressive vision loss. This project aims to determine whether there may be a difference between treatment with bevaciumab -VEGF inhibitor- and steroids used as eye injections inpatients with diabetic macular oedema losing vision despite standard laser treatment.
The Role Of Purines In Age Related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$682,434.00
Summary
Age Related Macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindess. In this project we will examine a possible cause for the development and progression of early AMD. In particular we will determine whether signaling of immune cells via receptors called purinergic receptors influences the removal of cellular debris as we age, predisposing people to the disease.
Abnormal growth of blood vessels is a central feature of number of blinding conditions of the eye. Although there are treatments available that reduce the sudden loos of vision in a majority of people with advanced age related macular degeneration, about 20% fail to respond and half gradually loose vision. This project will determine the effectiveness of treating vascular diseases of the retina with a novel therapy that is quite different to that currently available.
Novel Functional Imaging For Age-related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$564,848.00
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye condition which affects the central retina (the macula) resulting in a loss of central vision. The lack of appropriate clinical tests to monitor the progression of AMD at the early stages of disease hampers the discovery of novel interventions aimed at preventing the development of advanced vision-threatening AMD. In this project, we will investigate the use of a quick and non-invasive imaging technique for monitoring AMD progression.
Improving Patient Management Pathways In Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision impairment in Australians aged over 50 years. In recent years, there have been a number of diagnostic tests and new interventions developed for AMD, but it has proven challenging to communicate this information to all primary eye care practitioners. This project will investigate the reasons management guidelines are not always being followed, and develop online training to provide direct bench-to-bedside AMD education.
The Role Of Reduced Phagocytosis In The Pathogenesis Of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$786,742.00
Summary
Understanding the underlying mechanisms which lead to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is critical if we are to ultimately develop novel treatments. We hypothesise that there is a defective ability to remove debris that accumulates in the retina as we age and this is a crucial step in the development of AMD. We will investigate this hypothesis in an AMD cohort and in a pre-clinical model where we will test the efficacy of an intervention that improves the ability to clear debris.
A Fibroin-based Prosthetic Bruch's Membrane For The Treatment Of Age-related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,080.00
Summary
Our aim is to develop a new therapy for the treatment of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in our ageing population. The novelty of our therapy resides in using a protein derived from silk fibers (fibroin), to rebuild a healthy barrier between the outermost layer of the retina and adjacent blood vessels. We expect that the findings from this study will eventually lead to better outcomes for patients with AMD.
The vision we rely on every day to read and recognise faces depends upon the health of the central portion of our retina, the macula. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in Australia and the western world. Researchers at the Australian National University are collaborating to bring a new test for AMD severity to the market within 3 years. The objective is to provide doctors with a rapid, cost-effective tool to help them manage treatment.
Age-related Macular Degeneration: A Cause And A Cure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$828,300.00
Summary
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss and there is urgent need for an intervention to slow disease progression. AMD is characterised by debris accumulation in the retina and I will investigate if loss of function in cells that should clear this debris is a critical step in the development of AMD. I will trial a novel laser intervention to slow progression of disease and use basic science techniques to investigate the mechanisms of action of the laser.