Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA)

The CERA and Cerulea Clinical Trials team are here at #AusBiotech2025 showcasing the exciting projects, therapies and devices that we're home to. If you're a funder, industry partner and other investor and would like to learn about joining us on our mission to transform the future of eye health and vision, come and chat! The team will be here until conference close this Friday.

Congratulations Dr Isabel Lopez Sanchez on being a recipient of the 2025 University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women! The Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women support high-performing early and mid-career women in academia to advance towards senior academic and leadership roles. Dr Lopez Sanchez leads our Mitochondrial Biology and Disease research, exploring how mitochondrial failure drives vision loss in optic neuropathies and genetic eye diseases. This grant will support a research assistant, key translational studies and international collaborations to accelerate her efforts towards the development of treatments that target mitochondria to prevent vision loss. Congratulations Isabel on this fantastic recognition! Full announcement: https://lnkd.in/gR2VWBrK #WomenInSTEM

Cutting-edge research is making it possible to prevent vision loss caused by inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). However, with over 300 genes linked to different IRDs, people often don't know the exact gene causing their blindness – leaving them unable to access emerging treatments. The VENTURE Study, a partnership between CERA and University of Melbourne, involves over 550 people with IRDs. One hundred of them are receiving advanced testing through a partnership with The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC), aiming to find the exact genetic cause of their blindness. TAGC partners the University of Melbourne and Illumina. "We are thrilled to be working with Illumina and TAGC to help develop other avenues for advanced testing for these people, in the hope that an answer may be achievable," says Professor Lauren Ayton AM, who co-leads the project at CERA alongside Dr Thomas Edwards. "The VENTURE registry is driving IRD research, giving access to research opportunities." Under the leadership of ocular genetics expert Dr Ceecee Britten-Jones, some participants access advanced genetic testing to solve more complicated cases. Professor Ayton says a specific diagnosis can be very reassuring for a person with an IRD: “The value of genetic testing cannot be overstated.” The collaborative approach involves Retina Australia, UsherKids Australia and Blind Citizens Australia. "We work closely with community groups to ensure our work is relevant," says Professor Ayton. “We are keen to find more participants for clinical trials quickly, and to also know more about IRDs in this era of possible treatment.” Read the full article from our latest edition of Visionary magazine: https://ow.ly/zg8950XaPyA Pictured: Professor Ayton and Dr Britten-Jones

Calling all 👁️clinicians: You're invited to a CPD education evening featuring leading macular research experts Professor Robyn Guymer AM and Associate Professor Zhichao Wu at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA), Hosted by Astellas Pharma, ‘Filling the Blind Spots: New Perspectives in Geographic Atrophy’ will cover best practice standards for the diagnosis of geographic atrophy (GA) – ensuring accurate identification and monitoring of disease progression through clinical assessment and advanced imaging techniques. Event details: 📆 Thursday, 6 November 2025 🕠 5.30 onwards for a 6.15PM start. 📍Hybrid event - CERA, Seminar room, Level 10, 200 Victoria Parade Melbourne & Online (RSVP for event link). ☕ Refreshments provided. ✅ 1.5 OA accredited CPD points may be allocated. Places are limited. Please register here: https://ow.ly/Qm4950XcQbb Or email: [email protected]

This Monday! ✨

The cornea plays a vital role in our vision, but there's still so much to uncover about the clear window to the eye. 👁️ Our very own ‘Dr Karl’ Karl Brown joined Lien Trinh on episode 1 of her new season of Talking Eyes to discuss why the cornea is so important – and the cutting-edge research to engineer tissue to help combat a global shortage of donated corneas. 🌏 📻💬 Listen to the podcast: https://ow.ly/bUBK50XcbX6

🌟 JOB OPPORTUNITY: We're seeking a Clinical Research Coordinator to support the delivery of studies into age-related macular degeneration (AMD) studies across the Macular Research Unit. 🏢 Full time, ongoing role 👁️ Play a key role play a key role in participant engagement, clinical assessments, imaging, functional testing and data management – ensuring smooth study operations and accuracy across datasets. 🔬 Be part of a team that is internationally recognised for its pioneering research into AMD – one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss. Learn more about this exciting opportunity and apply today: https://ow.ly/nGCZ50XbttX

🙌 We’re delighted to share CERA researcher Dr Sena Gocuk is the inaugural winner of the Retina Australia Emerging Scientist Award – recognising and supporting her demonstrated excellence in research, leadership and advocacy in inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). 👁️ IRDs are a broad group of eye conditions resulting from a change or ‘mutation’ in one or more genes. Dr Gocuk has been pioneering research into female carriers of X-linked IRDs, such as choroideremia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa – caused by a gene mutation on the X chromosome. 🧬 Her research aims to ensure female carriers have equal access to potential treatments and support as males with these inherited conditions. Dr Gocuk is currently being supported by The Felton Bequest Philanthropic Research Grant at CERA to advance her research in two new projects. The first aims to develop a clinical test to identify a female carrier's risk of severe vision loss to facilitate personalised clinical care. The second explores whether emerging gene therapies being tested in males with X-linked diseases could also be safe and effective for female carriers. Please join us in congratulating Dr Gocuk on this well-deserved honour! 🎉

🌟 JOB OPPORTUNITY: Supporter Care Officer, Philanthropy We're seeking an experienced and dedicated professional to join our team as a Supporter Care Officer, Philanthropy at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA). 🏢 Part-time (0.6FTE), ongoing role 🤝 Play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth administration and operations of our fundraising and philanthropy programs. Be part of a dynamic and collaborative team ensuring every supporter feels connected to CERA's mission of improving people’s lives through research. Learn more about this exciting opportunity and apply today: 👉 https://ow.ly/UXuj50Xakf3