Developing novel ocular biomarkers for drug testing and neurodegenerative disease of the CNS

Project Details

Development of new drugs requires efficient quantification of how drugs enter the brain and their impact on neurons. As the brain is protected by the skull and is thus inaccessible, a new way to test drugs is needed. The eye is an extension of the brain, with the added advantage that blood vessels can be directly photographed. We are developing new functional and vascular imaging tests in the laboratory that than be clinically translated.

The development of each new drug costs some US$900 million dollars. A more efficient and direct way of testing whether drugs can get into and affect the brain will reduce the cost of drug development, which ultimately means cheaper drugs.

Research Group

Ocular Physiology Laboratory



Faculty Research Themes

Infection and Immunology

School Research Themes

Neuroscience & Mental Health



Key Contact

For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.

Department / Centre

Optometry and Vision Sciences

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