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Funded research projects

2023 Research Grant Program recipients announced, read more here.

One of Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s key objectives is to support research, with the aim of reducing the incidence and impact of macular disease. And so, in 2011, MDFA launched its Research Grants Program.

Over the life of the Research Grants Program, MDFA has become the largest non-government source of research funds for macular disease in Australia.

Key statistics of the Research Grants Program

Total funds committed since 2011$5.9 million
Number of projects funded since 201134 projects

Of course, the ultimate aim of research is to make sight-saving discoveries for all macular conditions. However, many MDFA-funded projects are directed to foundational research, which is crucial to our understanding of macular disease.

Only Australian researchers, working at an Australian institution, are eligible for MDFA’s Research Grants Program funding.

2023 Research Grants Program

In 2023, MDFA awarded three research grants worth a total of $560,000. An additional $150,000 will fund three early-career researchers undertaking innovative “blue sky” research into macular disease as part of the Grant Family Fund, which is possible as a result of a generous bequest made in memory of the late Faye Grant.

  • Dr Carla Abbott

    Dr Carla Abbott is from Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne.

    Project title: Composition and functionality of high-density lipoprotein in age-related macular degeneration and a high-risk disease phenotype

    Read more

  • Prof Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam

    Chandra Balaratnasingam is from Lions Eye Institute, University of Western Australia.

    Project title: Spatial transcriptomics in diabetic macular ischaemia

    Read more

  • Prof Gerald Liew

    Professor Gerald Liew is from Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney.

    Project title: Investigating Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Macular Degeneration – Towards New Treatments and Biomarkers =

    Read more

  • Dr Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones

    Dr Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones is from University of Melbourne.

    Project title: Redefining macular disease diagnosis to improve access to emerging therapies

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  • Dr Xavier Hadoux

    Dr Xavier Hadoux is from Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne.

    Project title: Evaluating the potential of hyperspectral imaging for detecting and monitoring geographic atrophy

    Read more

2021 Research Grants Program

In 2021, MDFA allocated more than $1 million through two distinct funding streams.

Under the MDFA Research Grants Program, a total pool of just under $935,000 was allocated to six research projects.

In addition, a total pool of just over $90,000 was allocated to two early-career researchers as part of the new Grant Family Fund.

  • A/Prof Anai Gonzalez-Cordero

    A/Prof Anai Gonzalez-Cordero is from Children’s Medical Research Institute, the University of Sydney.

    Project title: Creating a macula in retinal organoids

    This project aims to create an ‘organoid’, which is essentially a mini eye in a dish, that can used as a laboratory model for macular degeneration. This will address the lack of available animal models that replicate the macula which has hindered the study and development of new therapies.

    Read more

  • Dr Ting Zhang

    Dr Ting Zhang is from Save Sight Institute, the University of Sydney.

    Project title: Activating endogenous phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) to treat age-related macular degeneration with the help of a Müller cell-specific lipid nanocarrier

    This project will use gene manipulation to activate an enzyme called PHGDH which will then be delivered to Müller cells in the retina. PHGDH plays an important role in Müller cells by reducing oxidative and mitochondrial stress. The results of this research may lead to the discovery of new AMD treatments.

    Read more

  • Associate Professor Chi Luu

    A/Prof Chi Luu is from the Centre for Eye Research Australia.

    Project title: Relationships between choriocapillaris endothelial function, photo receptor health and AMD phenotypes.

    This project will use an innovative imaging technique to improve our understanding of the causes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and help develop new treatment strategies.

    Read more

  • Professor Justine Smith

    Prof Justine Smith is from Flinders University.

    Project title: Targeting inflammatory cytokines in macular oedema.

    This project will use human eye cells to create disease models in the laboratory. It will then use these to explore the possibility of treating macular oedema by blocking the actions of molecules called ‘cytokines’. Macular oedema is responsible for sight loss in diverse macular conditions – from diabetic eye disease to retinitis pigmentosa.

    Read more

  • Associate Professor Matthew Simunovic

    A/Prof Matthew Simunovic is from the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney.

    Project title: Optogenetic restoration of vision in macular degeneration with high-sensitivity Type I and Type II opsins.

    This project aims to eventually restore sight lost to macular degeneration using a type of gene therapy called ‘optogenetics’. Optogenetic gene therapy makes the ordinarily light-insensitive nerve cells that survive in advanced macular degeneration sensitive to light: it can therefore be considered a biological equivalent of the bionic retina.

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  • Ms Diana Tang

    Ms Tang is from Macquarie University.

    Project title: The development, implementation and evaluation of an online Movement, Interaction and Nutrition for Greater Lifestyles in the Elderly (MINGLE) program for people with age-related macular degeneration.

    This study aims to improve the mental and physical health of people living with age-related macular degeneration through the MINGLE program. The program is led by an accredited practicing dietician and a physical activity researcher.

    Read more

  • Dr Sheela Kumaran

    Dr Kumaran is from the University of New South Wales.

    Project title: Measuring the breadth and the depth of the quality-of-life impacts caused by age-related macular degeneration.

    This project aims to improve the way the impact of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on quality of life is measured. This will help assess the effectiveness of various interventions. It will also help our understanding of the economic impacts of AMD.

    Read more

  • Dr Yvette Wooff

    Dr Wooff is from Australian National University.

    Project title: Treat yourself! The use of therapeutically-loaded extracellular vesicles as a novel gene therapy for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

    This project will investigate the possibility of restoring communication between cells by therapeutically supplementing the natural molecular message of retinal health as a therapy. It is hoped that doing so will help maintain retinal health and slow the progression of retinal degeneration.

    Read more

2019 Research Grants Program

MDFA awarded a total pool of $600,000 to three leading researchers in a prestigious event held at Admiralty House, the Governor-General of Australia’s residence in Sydney, on World Sight Day (10 October).

The awards were announced by His Excellency the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia. The investments were made in three very different but equally important projects.

  • Professor Alex Brown

    Prof Brown is from the Aboriginal Health Equity Theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research.

    Project title: Defining the Risk and Epidemiology of Aboriginal Australian Macular Disease, hence its name: The DREAM project.

    This research aims to advance understanding of the underlying social, psychological, environmental, behavioural, clinical, biological and metabolomic risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular oedema (DMO) among Aboriginal people.

    Read more

  • Dr Audra Shadforth

    Dr Shadforth is from the School of Environment and Science, Griffith University.

    Project title: Investigating the potential for scar-less wound healing in age-related macular degeneration.

    Late-stage AMD includes the eventual development of sub-retinal fibrosis, and nearly half of eyes treated with anti-VEGF injections will continue to develop blinding scars within two years of treatment.

    This research will investigate the cells and mechanisms responsible for scar tissue formation under the macula, using emergent technologies and important clues from studies on human tissues capable of regenerative healing.

    This study aims to inform the development of new, sustainable treatments for AMD patients.

    Read more 

  • Dr Zhichao Wu

    Dr Wu is from the Centre for Eye Research Australia.

    Project title: Novel prognostic imaging biomarkers for improved risk stratification in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration.

    This research aims to investigate better methods for detecting and monitoring AMD using optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging technique, and artificial intelligence. The study will obtain imaging from 200 participants with intermediate age-related macular degeneration, which will inform clinical practice.

    Read more

2017 Research Grants Program

His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, Governor-General of Australia awarded three research grants totalling $600,000 to three of Australia’s leading researchers on behalf of Macular Disease Foundation Australia in November 2017.

  • Professor Alice Pébay

    Institution: Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, University of Melbourne

    Project title: Modelling geographic atrophy using human pluripotent stem cells.

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  • Professor Erica Fletcher

    Institution: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne

    Project title: Targeting monocyte phagocytosis to reduce progression of age-related macular degeneration.

    Read more

  • Dr Fred Chen

    Institution: Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia

    Project title: Stargardt macular degeneration – finding new genetic mutation and preparing patients for clinical trial.

    Read more

2016 Research Grants Program

Two projects received grants totalling $130,000 from MDFA in 2016.

  • Associate Professor Wilson Heriot

    Institution: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne

    Project title: Plaquenil and chloroquine phototoxicity.

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  • Professor Bamini Gopinath

    Institution: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney

    Project title: ‘Caring for the Carer’: implementing a comprehensive support service model for family caregivers looking after persons with age-related macular degeneration.

    Prof Gopinath’s study is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership Project Grant.

    Read more

2015 Research Grants Program

The Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove awarded Macular Disease Foundation Australia’s 2015 grants to world-leading Australian researchers in October 2015.

MDFA Research Grants funded three projects worth $700,000 in total. In addition, there were two Blackmores Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grants – each worth $100,000 – for research specifically into dietary and lifestyle aspects of macular degeneration.

An additional $400,000 grant was awarded as a combined Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grant / Blackmores Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grant.

The 2015 grants totalled $1.3 million.

  • Professor Mark Gillies

    Institution: Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney

    Project title: How to get the best outcomes of treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors: real world evidence.

    Read more

  • Associate Professor Chi Luu

    Institution: Centre for Eye Research Australia

    Project title: Static and dynamic retinal function topography in early stages of age-related macular degeneration.

    Read more

  • Associate Professor Gerald Liew

    Institution: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney

    Project title: Deciphering the metabolomics signature of age-related macular degeneration to discover pathogenic pathways.

    Read more

  • Associate Professor Isabelle Jalbert

    Institution: School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales

    Project title: Eye care practitioners’ and patients’ perspectives on age-related macular degeneration; identifying barriers and facilitators to optimal age-related macular degeneration care.

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  • Associate Professor Laura Downie

    Institution: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne

    Project title: Advancing eye care for people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through integrating clinical research and its translation.

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  • Professor Steven Krilis

    Institution: Infectious Diseases and Immunology; Sexual Health, St George Hospital, University of New South Wales

    Project title: Novel mechanisms of complement control protein dysregulation contributing to age-related macular degeneration pathogenesis and progression: CFH and beta 2-Glycoprotein.

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2014 Research Grants Program

In 2014, a single $100,000 grant, paid over two years, was funded by Blackmores Institute, Blackmore Foundation and Macular Disease Foundation Australia as one of the grants under MDFA’s Research Grants Program.

  • Professor Bamini Gopinath

    Professor Gopinath was awarded the Blackmores Dr Paul Beaumont Research Fellowship.

    Institution: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney

    Project title: Establishing the dietary and lifestyle risk factor profile of a large cohort of clinic patients presenting with late AMD.

    Read more

2013 Research Grants Program

On World Sight Day in October 2013, MDFA awarded Research Grants, totalling $600,000 over three years, at an event held at the Sydney Opera House. 

  • Professor Erica Fletcher

    Institution: Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne
    Project title: Purinergic receptors and early AMD: a novel mechanism and biomarker.

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  • Professor Damien Harkin

    Institution: School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology

    Project title: A novel tissue substitute for repairing the outer retina in patients with AMD.

    Read more

2012 Research Grants Program

As part of the Macular Disease Foundation Australia Research Grants program, in 2012 MDFA awarded the Blackmores Dr Paul Beaumont Research Fellowship. This Fellowship was launched in 2011 in recognition of the Foundation’s Founding Director, Dr Paul Beaumont AO. The Fellowship was supported by MDFA, Blackmores and the Marcus Blackmore Foundation.

  • Professor Bamini Gopinath

    Professor Gopinath received the Blackmores Dr Paul Beaumont Research Fellowship.

    Institution: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney

    Project title: Targeted Actions to Identify Modifiable Nutritional and Lifestyle Factors for AMD among Persons in the BMES and other Population Studies.

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2011 inaugural Research Grants Program

In 2011 the Foundation awarded its inaugural research grants, totalling $694,000 over three years, at an event hosted by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, CVO, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Additionally, MDFA awarded its inaugural 12-month Blackmores Paul Beaumont Research Fellowship. The Research Fellowship was launched in recognition of MDFA’s Founding Director, Dr Paul Beaumont AO.

The Fellowship was awarded to researchers based in eligible Australian institutions to pursue research into nutritional and/or lifestyle aspects of age-related macular degeneration. Funding was provided by MDFA’s Research Grants Program and Blackmores.

  • Professor Paul Mitchell

    Institution: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney

    Project title: Comparison of the risk factor, quality of life and utility value profile of a large age-related macular degeneration patient sample with a population-based cohort.

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  • Professor Robyn Guymer

    Institution: Centre for Eye Research Australiar

    Project title: Improved characterisation of high-risk phenotypes in early age-related macular degeneration, employing novel imaging and functional modalities.

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  • Dr Liubov Robman

    Dr Robman was awarded the Blackmores Dr Paul Beaumont Research Fellowship.

    Institution: Centre for Eye Research Australia

    Project title: Dietary patterns and risk of age-related macular degeneration.

    Read more