In 2021, the Lions Eye Institute proudly launched the Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative, made possible through the generous support of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.
Led by Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam and Professor Dao-Yi Yu AM, and supported by Dr Antony Clark, this transformative program aims to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of diabetic complications in children. The program aims to bridge the gap between laboratory science and clinical practice, particularly for those children where diabetes complications affect the retina and kidneys.
At the heart of the Initiative is a translational research model, where insights gained from patient care directly inform laboratory research – and vice versa. Our ultimate goal is to drive real world impact: earlier diagnoses, better treatment options, and improved outcomes for young people living with diabetes.
Why this work matters
Diabetes is a growing health crisis. According to Diabetes Australia, one person is diagnosed with diabetes every five minutes, and nearly two million Australians are currently living with the condition.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are disproportionately affected, being three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and four times more likely to die from it. Another alarming statistic is the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes in younger Australians, with a 37 per cent increase in those under 39 years old over the last decade. Type 1 diabetes remains the most common chronic childhood illness, with nearly 1,500 new diagnoses each year. When diabetes begins early in life, the risk of long-term complications, such as vision loss and kidney failure, increases significantly.
Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age adults globally. The Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative is tackling the problem head-on.
A new approach to diabetes-related eye and kidney disease
The Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative aims to:
- Develop non-invasive diagnostic tools to detect complications earlier
- Discover new treatments to prevent or reverse damage caused by diabetes
- Tailor care models to the individual, based on disease progression
Our approach is comprehensive and collaborative. Clinical studies in children, population screening programs, advanced imaging technologies, and research using human donor tissue and animal models all converge to create an ecosystem where discovery translates into impact.
One exciting avenue of our work is non-invasive retinal imaging. By developing advanced optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) tools, we can now visualise the retina’s tiniest capillaries – just 8 microns wide – without discomfort to the patient. This allows for earlier detection of diabetic eye disease before vision loss occurs.
We’re also exploring the retina-kidney connection, capitalising on the structural similarities between the two organs. Our collaboration with Dr Nick Larkins, Professor Elizabeth Davis, Professor Tim Jones and Associate Professor Craig Taplin aims to create a single, non-invasive eye test that could potentially monitor both retinal and kidney health – reducing the need for distressing blood and urine tests in children.
Progress in screening and impact
Since its inception, the Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative has screened nearly 400 children in Western Australia. Thanks to this proactive approach, none of the children enrolled
have experienced vision loss due to diabetes.
The program has also significantly improved on time screenings and extended retina evaluations to children in remote regions of Western Australia – a remarkable public health achievement.
Driving discovery in the laboratory
Our research extends beyond the clinic. We work closely with the Lions Eye Bank, using human donor tissue to uncover the earliest signs of diabetes-induced retinal damage. By studying over
500 donor eyes, our team has published more than 50 high-impact scientific papers that push the frontier of diabetes eye research.
One major focus is macular ischemia – a key cause of irreversible vision loss. Using cutting-edge techniques like spatial transcriptomics, we are identifying molecular targets that could lead to the
next generation of therapies. In collaboration with global pharmaceutical leaders such as Roche, we are actively pursuing treatments that could halt or reverse damage before it becomes permanent.
We are also pioneering systemic approaches – testing whether oral medications commonly used for cardiovascular disease could be repurposed to preserve retinal health. Our vision is to shift treatment away from invasive laser or injection-based therapies, toward simpler, safer, tablet-based treatments.
Looking ahead
From high-tech imaging and live red blood cell tracking to studies of early disease markers in human eyes, the Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative is unlocking new ways to preserve sight
and kidney function in children with diabetes.
Our commitment to innovation and collaboration is helping create a future where early intervention is possible, and the most serious complications of diabetes are preventable.
