Eye research nabs $14.2m in government grants

While the major funding grant – $9.46 million for glaucoma research at Flinders University – was announced late last month, nine other ophthalmic projects received government backing. Most notably, the University of Melbourne’s Professor Erica Fletcher received nearly $1.6 million for two separate projects related to the role of microglia in early diabetic retinopathy (DR), and the novel mechanisms of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Last year Fletcher was recognised by the American Acady of Optometry with the Glenn A Fry Award, which is given to people who have made significant contributions to advancing optometry.Specifically, Fletcher and her team received $933,952 to examine how retinal pigment eptihelial cells contribute to vision loss early in AMD, along with the potential two currently used drugs, as well as a novel laser treatment, have in terms of slowing the progression of disease.Her other project involves examining the role retinal immune cells have in causing early changes in the vasculature in DR, and whether diabetes changes the way neurons communicate with blood vessels.Other significant grants were awarded to; Flinders University’s Professor Justine Smith ($748,985), who will conduct a first-in-field study of mechanisms operating in post-Ebola eye disease; Macquarie University’s Professor Stuart Graham, who is targeting neuroserpin-plasmin interactions to protect the retina in glaucoma; and the Save Sight Institute’s Professor Mark Gillies, to assist him in targeting the de novo serine synthesis pathway in macular disease.Overall $640 million in grants were awarded in the most recent round of NHMRC funding.