A South Australian ophthalmologist whose work is saving thousands from vision loss and an R&D team that has disrupted the photochromic lens market with its self-tinting glasses have been named as winners at the 2024 SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards.
As reported in australianseniorsnews.com.au, Professor Jamie Craig, a Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor and Head of Ophthalmology at Flinders University and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, received the prestigious Scientist of the Year Award for his groundbreaking research on glaucoma.
Prof Craig and his team have developed the first accredited clinical genetic test which enables more accurate and earlier diagnoses and management of glaucoma in high-risk individuals.
“Glaucoma is a common disease usually occurring in older patients where the peripheral vision is gradually lost.
“The patient can end up with tunnel vision or eventually no vision at all due to damage to the optic nerve,” he said.
“The ability to be able to apply the research that we have been doing for 20 years and actually make it available to doctors and optometrists is something our whole team is very proud of.
“We’re now able to apply for the first time a personalised approach to managing glaucoma, and this will apply to other eye diseases,” he said.
ZEISS PhotoFusion X team took out the Innovator of the Year Award for its cutting-edge technology that enables sunglasses lenses to adapt to changing light conditions, improving vision and eye health for consumers.
“ZEISS’s PhotoFusion X technology is a photochromic lens that is clear indoors and becomes tinted outdoors in response to UV light,” said ZEISS PhotoFusion X Team, Innovator of the Year, Dr Scott Clafton.
“Australia is a world leader in UV protection. We give a different view to product development that you don’t get anywhere else in the world.
“Working on mature technology is quite tricky. There’s been a lot of people who have come before and had a lot of good ideas, so you have to be creative and think differently about how you develop the product to differentiate yourself from the competition.”
2024 SA Science Excellence and Innovation Award winners:
- Scientist of the Year: Prof Jamie Craig, Flinders University and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN).
- Innovator of the Year: ZEISS PhotoFusion X Team: Mr Simon Holtmann, Mr Andrew Lanyon, Dr Fang Chen, Ms Nicole Kitchin and Dr Scott Clafton.
- STEMM Educator of the Year – Primary/Secondary: Mrs Jessica Simons, Trinity College Gawler.
- STEMM Educator of the Year – University/RTO: A/Prof Voula Gaganis, Flinders University.
- Excellence in Science and Industry Collaboration: Flinders University Sleep Revolution team: Prof Danny J. Eckert, A/Prof Sutapa Mukherjee, Ms Celia Tait, Ms Jessica Steens, Mr Mark Harding.
- PhD Research Excellence Award: Dr Mary Brushe, University of Adelaide.
More reading
Positive results for PolyActiva biodegradable implant for glaucoma
Dr Elvis Ojaimi first to implant telescopic lens at Epworth Freemasons, Melbourne
Glaukos submits FDA application for iDose TR glaucoma implant
