Lions Eye Institute PhD student Hassanain Qambari and his team have had their research published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), one of the world’s leading eye research journals. Hassanain’s own imagery was also chosen for the front cover of the issue.
| This is not the first time Hassanain’s imagery has received acclaim; in 2023, he won the 49th Annual Nikon Small World Photo Microscopy Competition for his photo of a rodent optic nerve head showing astrocytes (yellow), contractile proteins (red), and retinal vasculature (green). |
 PhD student Hassanain Qambari |
 Hassanain’s winning Nikon image |
Developing a deeper understanding of diabetic retinopathy
 Hassanain’s image on the cover of IOVS
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Hassanain’s research looks at tiny structures called interpericyte tunnelling nanotubes, or IP-TNTs. These IP-TNTs form microscopic bridges between cells that help control blood flow in the smallest vessels of the retina. Until now, little was known about what happens to these bridges in diabetes.
Using a diabetic rat model, Hassanain and the team found that these nanotubes break down early in diabetic retinopathy — well before any blood vessels are lost. This is a significant finding, suggesting that IP-TNT loss could act as an early warning sign of diabetic retinopathy. “If we’re able to identify diabetic retinopathy earlier, there’s the potential to start treatment before permanent damage occurs,” says Hassanain. |
“We’re extremely proud of Hassanain’s achievement and recognition. By nurturing the next generation of vision scientists, we’re investing in the future of the Institute, ensuring that we can continue to pursue our mission of better vision for all for decades to come,” said Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam, Medical Director of the Lions Eye Institute.
The impact of the Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative
This research is part of the Perron Paediatric Retinopathy Initiative, generously supported by the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation. The program is dedicated to understanding and preventing diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of preventable blindness in working-age Australians (Macular Disease Foundation Australia).
 The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation |
Congratulations to Hassanain on this excellent achievement, and thank you to the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation for making this research possible. |
Full citation:
Hassanain Qambari, Martin Hein, Paula K. Yu, Dao-Yi Yu, Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam; Degeneration of Interpericyte Tunneling Nanotubes Can Occur in the Absence of Pericyte Loss in Diabetic Retina Disease. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2026;67(8):1. https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.67.8.1.
