Lions Eye Institute - Research Groups at LEI

Research Groups At LEI

• Molecular ophthalmology
  • Director: Professor E. Piroska Rakoczy.
  • Piroska Rakoczy was the first in Australia to apply molecular biological techniques in ophthalmic research. Prof. Rakoczy's group has developed gene therapy treatments for reversal of blinding retinal dystrophy in Briard dogs – the first large animal genetic blindness to be cured, and the first transgenic mouse model for ARMD.

• Physiology and pharmacology
  • Director: Professor Dao-Yi Yu, MD PhD,
  • Dao-Yi Yu heads up a major NHMRC Centre Grant dedicated to retinal physiology, mechanisms of disease and glaucoma. His research team has created the world’s first dissoluble glaucoma tube for microsurgery.

• Experimental immunology program
  • Director: Dr Mariapia Degli-Esposti, PhD
  • Mariapia Degli-Esposti's research aims to define interactions that occur between viral pathogens and host immune effectors to determine how these interactions affect anti-viral immunity.
  • Dr Degli-Esposti recently published a definitive review of the interactions between immune cells in the prestigious Nature Reviews Immunology magazine.

• Genetics/Population Health
  • Director: Professor David Mackey
  • Professor Mackey is the world's leading researcher in glaucoma genetics. His other major areas of interest include optic atrophy, congenital cataract, retinal detachment, strabismus and ptosis

• Clinical research
  • The Western Australian (WA) Lions Eye Institute is acknowledged as a core academic centre suitable for substantial participation in global clinical trials of new pharmaceutical therapies and surgical procedures not yet approved by governments.