Recent grant successes across DOVS
The Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences is proud to share a series of recent competitive research grant successes that highlight the outstanding work of our researchers.
Dr Ceecee Britten-Jones receives two national grants
Congratulations to Dr Ceecee Britten-Jones, recipient of both a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Early to Mid-Career Researcher Grant and an NHMRC Investigator - Emerging Leadership (EL1) Grant.
Her MRFF-funded project, “Transforming the diagnosis of inherited eye diseases using long-read sequencing technologies,” seeks to revolutionise the diagnosis of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), which are a major cause of early-onset blindness. Many Australians living with IRDs miss out on clinical trials and emerging treatments due to a lack of accurate genetic diagnosis. By using cutting-edge long-read sequencing technology, this research will improve diagnostic accuracy and advocate for broader access to genetic testing across Australia.
Dr Britten Jones will co-lead this project alongside an exceptional team of early-career researchers from UoM, CERA, WEHI, and CMRI, with support from leading institutions and over nine incredible partner organisations – including Illumina and Oxford Nanopore, Retina Australia, Macular Disease Foundation Australia, and the Australian IRD Registry & DNA Bank and the Centre for Population Genomics.
Additionally, Dr Ceecee has also received the NHMRC Investigator - Emerging Leadership (EL1) Grant for her project, "Advancing ocular genomics to propel breakthrough treatments for blindness". This research will integrate clinical and genomic data to understand rare, inherited retinal diseases, paving the way for personalised treatments and broader genomic medicine integration in eye care.
Dr Katerina Kiburg investigates lifestyle impacts on myopia treatment efficacy
We also congratulate Dr Katerina Kiburg on her successful award of a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Early to Mid-Career Researcher Grant. Her project, titled “Do behaviours modify the effectiveness of myopia control treatments?”, will explore how lifestyle factors influence treatment outcomes in managing myopia (short-sightedness) among young people.
Myopia is rising at an alarming rate globally, and while treatments exist to slow progression, their effectiveness may depend on behavioural factors. Dr Kiburg, in collaboration with Dr Gareth Lingham, will lead this important work to determine the optimal balance of behaviours to enhance treatment outcomes, preserve vision, and improve long-term eye health.
Department of Education Economic Accelerator Ignite Grant
A multidisciplinary team, including Dr Bao Nguyen, A/Prof Sam John, Prof Lauren Ayton, Prof Bang Bui, Prof David Grayden, Nathan Batham, Emril Ali, and Andre Tan has been awarded the Department of Education’s Economic Accelerator Ignite Grant for their project, “Verification of a handheld prototype to measure brain pressure.” This project, in collaboration with the Product Design Lab, will refine and validate a portable device to measure brain pressure, with broad potential applications in clinical care.
International Society of Contact Lens Researchers (ISCLR) Research Grant
Congratulations to Ching Yi Wu, Dr Mengliang Wu, A/Prof Holly Chinnery, and Prof Laura Downie, who received an International Society of Contact Lens Researchers (ISCLR) Research Grant for their study, "Corneal immune cell dynamics as a window to contact lens discomfort." Using advanced Functional In Vivo Confocal Microscopy (Fun-IVCM), the team will explore how immune cell activity in the cornea relates to contact lens discomfort, providing new insights into improving the wearer experience.
Our Department warmly congratulates all recipients and their collaborators on their achievements.