Immunology and Inflammation

Infectious diseases and immunological disorders remain one of the leading causes of disease.

The immune system is key to fighting infection, but also plays a role in unwanted responses such as allergies and excessive chronic inflammation following clearance of pathogens.

Our research is aimed at assessing the biochemical mechanisms that underpin immunological and inflammatory responses in the eye (eg. corneal and retinal) and on the eye's surface (e.g. in conditions of dry eye and contact lens wear). The research is directed to understand the cellular and chemical mechanisms of eye disease, with the translational goal of improved treatments for eye disorders.  Additionally, inflammation plays a key role in normal wound healing whereas abnormal inflammatory responses are associated with the most common forms of chronic lower limb ulceration.  Our research explores methods of identifying and managing chronic inflammatory changes in leg ulcers and other chronic wounds.

Groups / Projects Research Lead Dept / Centre
Analysing visual field data in macular disease Project Leader Dr Andrew Anderson Optometry and Vision Sciences
Bilateral and Binaural Hearing Dr Karyn Galvin
Audiology and Speech Pathology
Centre of Research Excellence – Newborn Medicine Project Leader Dr Alicia Spittle Physiotherapy
Children Dr Alicia Spittle
Physiotherapy
Clinical Psychophysics Unit Lab Director Professor Allison McKendrick
Optometry and Vision Sciences
Cochlear implantation for children with single-sided deafness or very asymmetrical hearing loss Dr Karyn Galvin Audiology and Speech Pathology
Comparing oculomotor decision-making models for halting inappropriate actions Project Leader Dr Andrew Anderson Optometry and Vision Sciences
Corneal and Ocular Immunology Unit Lab Director Dr Holly Chinnery
Optometry and Vision Sciences
Developing consensus on physical activity measurement following stroke Project Leader Dr Natalie Fini
Physiotherapy
Eye movements in neurodegenerative disease Project Leader Associate Professor Larry Abel Optometry and Vision Sciences
Imaging Retinal Cells Human Unit Lab Director Associate Professor Andrew Metha
Optometry and Vision Sciences
Modulation of the anterior eye inflammatory response to treat dry eye disease Optometry and Vision Sciences
Retinal structure and function in ageing and disease Project Leader Dr Michael Pianta Optometry and Vision Sciences
Understanding progressive vision loss in the eye disease glaucoma Project Leader Dr Andrew Anderson Optometry and Vision Sciences
Understanding the role of blood pressure, vascular autoregulation in ageing and glaucoma Optometry and Vision Sciences
Using our novel model of glaucoma to understand if ganglion cells can recover from injury Optometry and Vision Sciences

16