Taking the Lions Eye Institute into the next 40 years
Translational research and scientific breakthroughs leading to treatments, cures and inventions for patients.
We are committed to providing accessible eye care to people of all ages, in order to achieve better eye health and lifelong vision, and focused on developing the next generation of scientists to meet the eye care needs of the future. By leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence, the Lions Eye Institute is identifying patterns and trends in large data sets that would otherwise be difficult for ophthalmologists to detect. This allows for earlier identification of eye diseases and more effective treatment plans, no matter where patients live.
The Lions Eye Institute’s emerging scientists include:
Professor Allison McKendrick is the Lions Eye Institute UWA Chair in Optometry Research. She is an AHPRA registered optometrist and has over 20 years of research experience related to vision and visual disorders. Her current research interests aim to improve clinical tests for measuring and monitoring vision disorders. She has specific interests in improving and […]
Professor Andrew Turpin is Chair of Ophthalmic Data at the Lions Eye Institute jointly appointed at Curtin University. His current research interests include application of computer science principles and methods to the collection and analysis of data related to eye health care. This includes new diagnostic techniques (visual field testing and retinal image analysis), advanced […]
Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam is a surgeon-scientist that undertakes clinical and lab-based research to determine the mechanisms that underlie vision loss in retinal vascular diseases. Professor Balaratnasingam received his PhD with High Distinction from The University of Western Australia for a thesis that examined pathogenic mechanisms underlying retinal ganglion cell axonal degeneration in diabetes and glaucoma. […]
Associate Professor Fred Chen is a clinician researcher in retinal diseases. He was trained in vitreoretinal surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and returned to Lions Eye Institute in 2010 to establish the Ocular Tissue Engineering Laboratory. For over 10 years, Associate Professor Chen has been at the forefront of the Lions Eye Institute’s […]
Professor Angus Turner is the McCusker Director of Lions Outback Vision. This service delivery and research unit focuses on areas of unmet need servicing regional locations and Indigenous communities. He has established the specialist mobile clinic – Lions Outback Vision Van which serves 20 remote communities with state-of-the-art facilities. More recently, he has relocated with […]
“I love that ophthalmology gives me the chance to improve vision and impact a person’s quality of life, thereby making a small, positive difference in the world.” Associate Professor Hessom Razavi is a retinal specialist and an ophthalmic consultant in both Nedlands and Midland. He is also the unit coordinator for ophthalmology teaching at UWA. […]
Dr Livia Carvalho obtained her PhD on the evolution of colour vision from University College London (UCL, UK) followed by two postdoctoral positions at UCL (UK) and Harvard Medical School (USA) that changed the direction of her research towards a more translational approach studying the biology, disease mechanisms and AAV-based gene therapy approaches for inherited […]
Dr Sam McLenachan is the Senior Scientist of the Ocular Tissue Engineering Laboratory and a Lead Researcher in the Genetic Eye Disease and Gene Therapy research program at the Lions Eye Institute. Throughout his career Dr McLenachan’s research has focused on understanding and combining the elements necessary for the translation of molecular technologies into new […]
Dr Jessica Mountford is an early career researcher that joined the Lions Eye Institute in February 2021 as a Brian King Fellow. Dr Mountford’s research interests include investigating the role of both genetics and environmental factors in the development of early-onset myopia. Dr Mountford has a specific interest in determining what effect long-term educational lockdowns, […]
Dr Evan Wong
“We are deeply committed to bringing together cutting-edge technology, the latest scientific evidence, and personalised care, to achieve the best possible results for every single patient.” Dr Evan Wong was born in Scotland, grew up in Singapore and has spent all his adult life in Perth. He went to medical school at The University of […]
“Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.” Dr Geoffrey Chan graduated with honours in medicine from The University of Western Australia (UWA). After accomplishing his ophthalmic specialty training, he completed a Fellowship position in both complex cataract and glaucoma at Fremantle and Royal Perth Hospitals, before a subsequent Glaucoma Fellowship at the world-leading Addenbrooke’s […]
The future of the Lions Eye Institute and the eye care needs of the Western Australian community is in very good hands.
Read our 40 Years of Impact Report
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