Grant Recipient: A/Prof. Harkin

Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grant Recipient.

Associate Professor Damien Harkin School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology and the Queensland Eye Institute

The novel research project will look at a protein extracted from silk as a form of scaffold on which to grow new retinal tissue, with the view to replacing the damaged tissue that eventually leads to permanent loss of sight in macular degeneration patients. This project may help maintain or restore vision for people living with late stage disease.

Associate Professor Harkin said, “The ultimate goal of our research is to develop an effective, affordable and accessible treatment for patients afflicted with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The novelty of our study is that we will use a protein extracted from silk as a form of scaffold on which to grow new retinal tissue, with the view to replacing the damaged tissue that eventually leads to permanent loss of sight in AMD patients.”

9 October 2013