Dr Sushma Anand, Professor Robyn Guymer AM and Dr Jiang-Hui (Sloan) Wang are being supported by prestigious Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) grants in their projects aiming to advance research into macular telangiectasia (MacTel) type 2, Stargardt's disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Last month, the MDFA Research Awards Ceremony was hosted at Admiralty House by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC presented the awards to Dr Anand and Associate Professor Guei-Sheung Liu, who accepted on behalf of Professor Guymer and Dr Wang.
Treating rare macular diseases
Dr Sushma Anand, supported by a 2025 Grant Family Fund Award, is pioneering a new approach to treating two rare macular diseases: MacTel Type 2 and Stargardt's disease, a type of inherited retinal disease (IRD).
Both conditions affect the macula, the central part of our light-sensing retina responsible for sharp central vision.
Dr Anand's team is exploring the potential of exosomes - tiny, naturally occurring 'bubbles' released by cells - as 'delivery vehicles' to transport treatments directly to the affected parts of the eye.
Stargardt's disease is usually caused by changes or 'mistakes' in the ABCA4 gene, which is too large for current gene therapy methods to deliver. Dr Anand's team are investigating whether exosomes can carry a healthy copy of this gene into the retina.
For MacTel type 2, the team is testing if exosomes can deliver an important amino acid, serine, directly to affected eye cells. MacTel has been linked to low serine levels, which may contribute to harmful lipid buildup and damage in the retina.
Dr Anand says the MDFA's support is invaluable in their work to treat these rare macular diseases.
"This approach could open up new possibilities for delivering treatments for MacTel and Stargardt's disease in the future."
Nocturnal hypoxia and wet AMD
Professor Robyn Guymer AM, CERA Deputy Director and Head of Macular Research, is furthering her team's investigation into the relationship between nocturnal hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in the blood overnight) and neovascular or 'wet' AMD.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common cause of nocturnal hypoxia.
Professor Guymer's project aims to find out how common nocturnal hypoxia is in people with wet AMD compared to those without the condition.
The research team is also examining the association between nocturnal hypoxia and the severity of wet AMD - looking at factors such as the age of onset, whether it affects one or both eyes, and the frequency of eye injections needed for treatment.
Professor Guymer says she is deeply grateful to the MDFA for supporting this vital research.
"If we can confirm nocturnal hypoxia as an unidentified risk factor for wet AMD, it could change our approach to screening and treatment," Professor Guymer explains.
"This discovery might lead to a new, easily treatable risk factor to screen for in those at risk of developing wet AMD or those already diagnosed with the condition."
Accelerating IRD treatments
Dr Jiang-Hui (Sloan) Wang is working to develop innovative gene therapies for IRDs such as Stargardt's disease, supported by a 2025 Grant Family Fund Award from MDFA.
His project aims to overcome a major challenge in treating Stargardt's disease - safely and efficiently delivering the large gene to the retina to repair the faulty gene that causes the condition.
Dr Wang's approach involves splitting this gene into two parts and using a safe, specially modified virus to transport these parts directly into the eye, where they can be reassembled.
He says the MDFA's support is instrumental in advancing the team's gene therapy research.
"This work has the potential to improve treatment options for Stargardt's disease and possibly other retinal conditions," Dr Wang says.
"We're excited about the possibilities this research opens up for patients with inherited retinal diseases."
A Centre for Eye Research Australia study has linked low levels of oxygen in the blood overnight - a common sign of obstructive sleep apnoea - with wet age-related macular degeneration.
The Centre for Eye Research Australia has announced key scientific appointments to boost its glaucoma and inherited retinal disease research programs in 2026.
