Annual 20 - Lions Eye Institute · Facsimile 9382 1171 Lions Eye Institute Annual Report 2009...

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Facsimile 9382 1171

Lions Eye Institute Annual Report 2009

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To achieve excellence in scientific research and

clinical practice to prevent blindness.

Our Mission

www.lei .org.au

Every five seconds one person in our world goes blind.

Every minute a child goes blind.

The implications of visual disability are enormous.

The public imperative of blindness cannot be ignored.

Professor Ian Constable AO - Founding Managing Director

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L i o n s E y e I n s t i t u t e A N N U A L R e P o R T 0 9 53

Chairman’s Report .............................................................................................................. 2

Managing Director’s Report ................................................................................................ 4

Our Board ......................................................................................................................... 6

Corporate Governance Statement ...................................................................................... 8

Review - Centre for e-Health ............................................................................................. 10

Review - Clinical Research ................................................................................................ 12

Review - Immunology and Virology Group ........................................................................ 14

Review - Molecular Ophthalmology Group ........................................................................ 16

Review - Ocular Immunology Group ................................................................................. 17

Review - Physiology and Pharmacology Group ................................................................. 18

Review - Viral Immunogenetics Group .............................................................................. 19

Our Clinical Services ......................................................................................................... 20

Our Clinicians ................................................................................................................... 22

Our Shared Vision ............................................................................................................. 26

A Lasting Legacy .............................................................................................................. 30

Appointments, Awards and Honours ................................................................................ 32

Collaborators and Visitors ................................................................................................. 36

Conferences and Invited Lectures ..................................................................................... 38

Publications ...................................................................................................................... 44

Financial Statements ........................................................................................................ 48

• Lions Eye Institute Limited ............................................................................................. 48

Financial Statements ........................................................................................................ 50

• Australian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness Trust............................................ 50

Grants .............................................................................................................................. 51

Corporate Directory .......................................................................................................... 53

Cont

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Chairman’s Report

revenue received from operations was $17.1m, with 56% generated from clinical services and 10% from bequests and donations. The Institute holds $20.3m in net assets of which $7.0m is in plant, property and equipment.

Unfortunately the building progress of the two new medical research facilities at the QE11 and Fiona Stanley hospital sites has been slower than reported last year. The building contract for the QE11 site is expected to be awarded by mid 2010 with construction to be completed by 2013. The Fiona Stanley site research building is planned to follow closely behind the QE11 site project. LEI will lease a whole floor in the QE11 site building under a formal agreement with WAIMR and will be responsible for meeting part of the cost of fitting out the accommodation. The WAIMR project budget will contribute a fixed amount towards the fit out works.

The Institute continued in 2009 to pursue numerous and widely diverging topics across its research teams, headed up by the newly appointed Director of Research, Professor

2009 was a watershed year at the Lions Eye Institute. Professor David Mackey commenced his duties as the Institute’s Managing Director in March 2009. David has now settled into his new role and he will quickly add his expertise to LEI’s research efforts.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Board, to express our thanks to Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti for her diligence in the role of Acting Managing Director during the six month period whilst David Mackey completed his research scholarship responsibilities.

LEI’s financial performance improved significantly during 2009 and the Institute’s investments have made up some of the ground lost during the global financial crisis. Surplus from operations of $2.8m and book value improvement in the investment portfolio has resulted in a net profit of $4.0m. As a consequence of the solid performance this year the Institute remains in a healthy position and we are well placed to provide funding support for the major research projects planned for the next five years. The total

David Eiszele - Chairman Lions Eye Institute

L i o n s E y e I n s t i t u t e A N N U A L R E P O R T 0 92

Mariapia Degli-Esposti. Throughout the year our researchers and scientists attracted funding in excess of $3.9m, testament to our internationally renowned research expertise.

This year’s Ian Constable Lecture was held in September at the Octagon Theatre at UWA. The orator, Professor Anne Kelso, Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza spoke on the topic “The 21st Century Pandemic”. This proved to be very topical with the outbreak of swine flu at the time.

The Board membership did not change during the year. However, two directors have indicated that they intend to stand down in the near future, hence recruits will be required in 2010. Most of the Directors have been members of the Board since 2003 and I sincerely thank the team for their constructive and informed advice. The Board again reviewed its performance and identified issues that need attention to ensure that the Institute continues to flourish. The Board concentrated its efforts on supporting the management team in its efforts to generate new research projects, to improve the operations of the Clinic and to obtain value from its investments.

The Institute continues to receive much needed support from the Lions Save-Sight Foundation (LSSF) and the Australian Foundation for the prevention of Blindness Trust (AFPB). Both organisations have shown an ongoing commitment to helping the Institute in many ways and I thank them for their continued support of both the Institute and our new Managing Director.

Some of the Institute staff have had to undertake additional tasks during this transition year and on behalf of the Board, I would like to sincerely express our thanks to them for their efforts. The Board is looking forward to working with the management team in 2010 to progress our research and clinical services goals.

David Eiszele Chairman

L i o n s E y e I n s t i t u t e A N N U A L R E P O R T 0 9 3

Managing Director’s Report2009 saw the passing of the baton of the Managing Director (several times). Professor Ian Constable, the Foundation MD of LEI and Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Western Australia, retired as Managing Director at the end of February. I arrived at the beginning of March for two months before returning to Tasmania to conclude my Research Fellowship. The Director of Research, Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti, most capably held the position of Acting MD before I returned for the final leg of the relay in November. The team at LEI has been very welcoming to me as I have met with all members of the Research, Clinical and Administrative arms of the Institute. I am impressed with the interactions between staff and hope to build on this, bringing new research teams and clinician scientists to Perth. I appreciate the tremendous draw of the West that brought great ophthalmologists here such as Dame Ida Mann and Robert Linton.

When I attended the 25th anniversary celebrations in 2008 I realised I was to take over managing the jewel in the crown of Australia’s Eye research organisations. The tremendous breadth and depth of work at LEI is internationally renowned. I have enjoyed reading the archival material and many old annual reports to learn the rich history of LEI. I was particularly pleased to find an old photo of four LEI clinicians - Ian McAllister, Geoff Crawford, Graham Barrett and Bill Morgan - with their prizes for the best presentation at the National RANZCO scientific meeting for four out of five years. I was holding the trophy for the other year, 1993, for my research into the genetic eye disease Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Since then I have expanded my genetic research interest in glaucoma by establishing the Glaucoma Inheritance Study in Tasmania (GIST). Richard Cooper, an Associate Professor from LEI “retired” to Tasmania, where he provided mentoring to me and the GIST researchers. I will be continuing my genetics work, particularly in glaucoma and feel honoured to be coming full circle back to LEI - looking back and moving forward.

David Mackey - Managing Director Lions Eye Institute


Research for patients and patients for research.

The clinicians at LEI are recognised nationally and internationally for their diagnostic and surgical skills. A large number of clinical trials are conducted out of the LEI clinic. We will be expanding and improving the clinical rooms, which will be used at weekends to examine several thousand healthy volunteers as part of several major genetic eye disease studies.

Sincere thanks go to the LEI chairman, David Eiszele, on behalf of Mariapia and myself, for his mentoring for the position of MD. Although we have both managed large research groups in the past, there are many new challenges in managing a large organisation such as LEI. Thanks also go to the former chairman Brian King, who taught me much of the history of LEI and ophthalmology in WA. Although Ian Constable has retired as MD, he is still practising as a clinician here at LEI as well as working on some of his research projects. I have greatly valued his advice over the year. Ian’s personal assistant Esther McCloskey has also greatly assisted in the transition giving helpful advice to me and my PA Hilary Salisbury.

My education with respect to the wonderful work that Lions Clubs do for preventing blindness is due in large part to the tireless efforts of the chairman of the Lions Save-Sight Foundation (LSSF) Lorraine Strickland (who is delighted we are starting The Raine Eye Health Study at LEI). It is the LSSF that financially supports the positions of Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Research. It was an honour to be accepted as a member of the Lions Club of the LEI. In cooperation with Lions Clubs I will be visiting several regional areas in Western Australia during 2010 to carry out glaucoma screening, where the Lions started their involvement in WA ophthalmology. And last, but certainly not the least, my thanks go to Carlo Manera and the Australian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness for support to help start my research programs in WA.

We will be upgrading the Linton Library, with a new online library accessing the digital versions of journals as well as preserving our historical journal collections and displays of old instruments, some

from the earlier research development at LEI and dating back to Dame Ida Mann’s instruments used in her early trachoma work with the Aboriginal people. I look forward to the future at LEI with a major fundraising drive to help us bring new research groups here as well as expand the clinical population and genetic work, into diseases such as glaucoma, optic atrophy and strabismus.

In early 2009 we were privileged to have Professor Tony Moore from the Institute of Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital spend 2 months

sabbatical at LEI. Late in 2009 Professor John Forrester from the University of Aberdeen was a visiting Raine Professor. We hope to have Professor Forrester spend time in WA each year for the next 5 years as well as other leading clinicians and scientists spending time in Perth as part of an ongoing visiting Professor Program. Most importantly we will be training the next generation of researchers, clinician scientists and ophthalmologists who will take on the baton for LEI moving forward.

Professor David Mackey Managing Director

Professor Mackey continues the

tradition of excellence with his

Rooster award.


Our Board

1. David Eiszele FAICD Non-executive Chairman

David Eiszele joined the Board in 2003 and was appointed Chairman from 1 January 2005. He is Chairman of Verve Energy, a director of Torrens Energy Limited and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (WA Division). A former Managing Director of Western Power Corporation - a major government trading entity - Mr Eiszele has held national leadership roles as a member of the Business Council of Australia and Chairman of ESAA. He was the Chairman of PearlStreet Limited prior to its sale in December 2009, a past Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and Australian Institute of Management.

2. Professor Ian Constable AO FAICD Managing Director (Until 28th February 2009)

In 1975 Professor Ian Constable was appointed by the University of Western Australia to the Lions Foundation Chair of Ophthalmology. He was recruited from the USA where he served as a Clinical Retinal Fellow at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and a Harvard University lecturer. In 1983 Professor Constable led the establishment of the Lions Eye Institute. He heads UWA’s Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science and is Deputy Chair of the Western Australian Science and Innovation Council. He is also past President of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, an association serving more than half the world’s blind.

3. Winthrop Professor David Mackey MBBS, MD, FRANZCO, FRACS Managing Director (From 1st March 2009)

Professor David A Mackey was born and educated in Tasmania, studying Medicine at the University of Tasmania. After resident years in Launceston and Hobart he trained in Ophthalmology at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, subsequently doing a fellowship in Paediatric and Genetic eye diseases at the Royal Children’s Hospital

where he completed his MD thesis. After fellowships at the Johns Hopkins Centre for Hereditary Eye Diseases in Baltimore and Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Great Ormond Streeet Hospital for Sick Children in London he returned to Australia to specialise in Genetic Eye Diseases.

4. John Atkins B.Juris, LLB, LLM, FAICD Non-executive Director

John Atkins is Chairman, Western Australia - ANZ. Before joining ANZ, Mr Atkins was Head of the Perth office of national law firm, Freehills. In addition to his role at ANZ, he is also non-executive chairman of the nickel exploration company, Breakaway Resources Ltd, non-executive director of strategic planning and management consulting company Barrington Consulting Group Pty Ltd, non-executive director of financial services company Australian Finance Group Ltd, Director and Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Member of the Council of Presbyterian Ladies College and Deputy Chairman and former Chairman of Committee for Perth. Mr Atkins is an experienced commercial lawyer and has substantial strategic planning, business building and corporate realignment experience.

5. Brian King AM MBE Non-executive Director

With his long standing association with Lions Clubs International as a Past District Governor and 19 years as Chairman of the Lions Save-Sight Foundation, Mr King played a lead role in the creation of the Lions Eye Institute. He was appointed as LEI founding Chairman in 1983 and continuously held this position until his retirement on 31 December 2004. Mr King is a former general insurance executive and in 1981 was appointed a Member of the British Empire. In 2004 he was honoured with a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the community.

Our Board


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6. William Bloking FAICD Non-executive Director

William (Bill) Bloking joined the Board in 2003. Mr Bloking is currently Chairman of KAL Energy and Nido Petroleum, and he is a non-execuive director of the John Holland Group and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He is also a Governor of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University.

7. Rudolf Brunovs FAICD Non-executive Director

Rudolf Brunovs joined the Board in 2005. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Masters of Business Administration. Mr Brunovs retired as a partner of the chartered accounting firm Ernst & Young after 27 years as a partner in a number of their offices. He is currently a Director and the Principal of Mainstay Consulting Pty Ltd and a Director of Deep Yellow Limited.

8. Michele Dolin FAICD Non-executive Director

Ms Dolin joined the Board in 2003. She holds a Masters of Arts Degree from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Melbourne. She is a Director of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow and Life Member of the Australian Institute of Management and a Senior Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Ms Dolin is the Chief Executive of GESB and has held senior executive positions at BankWest, Westpac and Challenge Bank and is the Pro-Chancellor, Curtin University.

Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti Acting Managing Director (1st May to 31st October 2009)

Professor Mariapia A Degli-Esposti was born in Italy. She moved to Australia in the 1980s and was educated at the University of Western Australia. She received a PhD in Immunology from UWA with special commendation for outstanding distinction. After her PhD and further post-doctoral training in Perth, she moved to Seattle, USA, to undertake further post-doctoral studies at Immunex. She returned to Australia in 1998 as Group Leader in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Western Australia. In 2000 she became an NHMRC Research Fellow. In 2001 she was awarded a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship in Biomedical Sciences, the only one ever awarded in Western Australia. In 2003 she relocated to the Lions Eye Institute. She became an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow in 2006. Prof Degli-Esposti continues her research in immune-regulation and viral infection, as well as participating in cutting edge research in ocular immunology.

Our Patron Sir James Cruthers AO

Sir James Cruthers has been a long standing patron of LEI. He had a long career in the media and entertainment industry, receiving his knighthood for service to commerce, the community and the arts. After war service he was appointed a journalist with the Perth Daily News. In 1958 he became founding General Manager of TVW Channel 7 and later Chairman. Past chairmanships include the Australian Film Commission and News American Publishing Inc where he was personal adviser to Mr Rupert Murdoch. Sir James is a philanthropist who established TVW Telethon and the WA annual Christmas Pageant. He actively supports many charitable groups.


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The Lions Eye Institute exists to:

• conduct research into the causes, prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions giving rise to blindness and other ocular disorders on a not-for-profit basis;

• advance the standards of medical eye care through education and training of the medical and allied professions; and

• stimulate public interest in the social and economic impact of eye disease through promotion of eye health awareness, community screening programs and population research relevant to prevention of blindness.

In meeting its obligations to the community the Institute adheres to high standards of corporate governance as a limited liability company with not-for-profit and Tax Exempt Gift Recipient status.

Board of DirectorsOur Board of Directors comprised of six non-executive directors, including the Chairman, and one executive director, being the Managing Director. Directors each give of their expertise and time on a voluntary basis. There was no change in the compilation of the Board in 2009, other than the appointment of Professor David Mackey from 1st March 2009. Professor Ian Constable stepped down from the position of Managing Director on 28th February 2009.

The Board provides strategic guidance to Institute management to ensure the quality, efficiency and longevity of our research, clinical, teaching and community activities.

The Board and Institute management continued their ongoing implementation and subsequent annual review of the strategic plan introduced to formalise the future direction of the Institute. This plan will assist us in achieving our principal objective of eliminating avoidable blinding eye disease.

Corporate Governance Statement

Corporate Governance Statement

Professor Ian Constable and Steven Cole, President AICD WA Division


Introducing Professor David Mackey

The Board formally meets eleven times a year and on other occasions as required. It receives regular and detailed financial and operational reports from senior management. Upon request, senior management attend Board meetings, provide briefings and respond to questioning by Directors.

An Investment Committee and an Audit & Risk Committee operate to assist the Board to fulfil its obligations.

Executive CommitteeOur Executive Committee consisting of the Managing Director, Director of Research, Director of Clinical Services, Director of Development, Director of Nursing, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Information Technology meets bi-monthly to discuss key budgetary, operational and strategic activities. In addition, Professor Bill Morgan has been co-opted onto the committee.

Financial reporting The Institute’s financial year ended on 31 December 2009. Our Managing Director signed off on the annual financial reporting process on behalf of the Board, advising that to the best of his knowledge the financial statements provided a true and fair view of the financial position of the Institute.

Audit governanceThe Institute engages Grant Thornton (WA) Partnership as an external audit team to independently review its financial reports and uphold the integrity of the reporting process.

Risk managementIn order to reduce exposure to insurable risk the Institute has in place a risk management plan. This plan has effect across all business activities and is regularly reviewed to safeguard our reputation and financial security. Additionally, the Institute maintains a comprehensive insurance program.

Accreditation of clinical servicesThe Lions Eye Institute’s Clinical Services Division has received ISO9001 accreditation as part of World’s Best Practice for delivery of outstanding patient care. Patients who receive treatment at our Day Surgery Unit, Laser Vision Centre and Patient Clinic do so in the knowledge that they will receive expert and personal care.

Gold Medal Award for Professor ConstableProfessor Ian Constable received the prestigious Gold Medal from the Australian Institute of Company Directors for his outstanding achievements in the promotion of corporate governance in community-based organisations.


Introducing Professor David Mackey

Review Centre for e-HealthDistance often poses difficulties for people when they need specialist health care, which is why LEI’s Centre for e-Health concentrates on providing rural and remote communities with better options for disease screening, diagnosis and treatment.

The Centre for e-Health advances understanding of clinical conditions by capitalising on its strengths in e-medicine, decision support, medical imaging and computer aided tools. Its efforts have already resulted in the transfer of clinical information and data via the internet becoming more prevalent within the medical community.

The Centre has developed innovative digital imaging technology such as the multipurpose diagnostic device and software for high volume screening and diagnosis of debilitating eye diseases including diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Technology currently under development has many other potential uses in fields including dentistry, dermatology and otolaryngology.

The research and development of affordable, portable and non-invasive diagnostic tools, intelligent electronic medical record systems, imaging algorithms and computer aided diagnostic software are the focal points of the Centre’s research.

The Centre also concentrates on providing vital clinical services in rural and remote areas and educating and training healthcare professionals in telemedicine and the management of medical data. Technology and medicine are intertwined in the twenty first century and LEI’s position in this key field is enviable.

Research outcomes & highlights• EyeScan device developed by the Centre for

e-Health and commercialised to a US company was released to market at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting in San Francisco on 24th October 2009.

• The Centre conducted the fourth Continuing Professional Development/Continuing Medical Education e-Health and Telemedicine workshop to educate GPs, nurses and health care specialists in the area of telemedicine and medical/nursing informatics.

• Development of a non-invasive glucose measurement device; low cost diagnostic technologies; clinical decision support tools to aid early diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases such as glaucoma, and web-based telemedicine and computer aided diagnosis systems.

Sponsors

• NHMRC

• LSSF

• MHRIF

• SHRAC

• Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing


Centre for e-HealthREvIEw

Fred Reinholz - Researcher with EyeScan


Clinical ResearchREvIEw

Review Clinical ResearchThe clinicians at LEI all have a major commitment to research into new developments to solve some of the world’s most intractable blinding eye diseases. The Institute offers the unique blend of having scientists working in close association with the clinicians to bring laboratory generated ideas and techniques to the level where they can be involved in assisting some of our patients.

2009 and 2010 will see some exciting new developments that were originally generated at LEI in the laboratory being finally translated into clinical techniques which address some of the most common blinding eye conditions. These include:

• The use of a high intensity laser to create a bypass in blood vessel blockages in the retina.

• The development of a micro fistula to control intraocular pressure in intractable cases of glaucoma.

• Commencement of a gene therapy trial into the wet or neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

All of these studies represent many years of basic science research and trials before they have reached this stage where their benefit is being proven.

We have twelve specialty trained ophthalmologists here at the Institute with a thirteenth due to start at the end of 2010. We offer expertise in all branches of ophthalmology. In 2009, 42,000 patients visited LEI with 3,400 procedures performed and over 3,500 ocular injections given for diseases including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular disorders.

Other areas of clinical research include participation in a wide range of international multi-centre clinical drug trials, notably for AMD which remains the commonest cause of blindness in our community. Other trials include those for retinal vascular occlusion, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and ocular inflammatory disorders.

In 2009 we welcomed Professor David Mackey, who has become Professor and Managing Director, taking over from Professor Ian

Dr Jean-Pierre Guillon and Maurice Newbon with Prof. Geoffrey Crawford


Constable. Professor Mackey is incorporating the Institute’s clinical database of genetic eye diseases into his Australia-wide programmes investigating genetically linked ocular disorders. Professor Constable continues his work conducting clinical sessions and research with involvement in genetic analysis of our patients with AMD. He is also on the Executive Committee of the International Macular Telangiectasia Project of which LEI is a major contributor.

Professor McAllister, Professor Constable and Dr Isaacs are currently conducting nine separate multi-centre clinical drug trials investigating new therapies for the treatment of macular degeneration, retinal oedematous or swelling disorders, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular occlusions which are responsible for 65% of blindness in WA. Professor McAllister continues his research into developing laser bypass techniques for treating blinding retinal vascular occlusions and is a key investigator on several new studies which are being conducted at the Institute to reduce retinal swelling and vision loss following occlusive vascular disease.

Professor Barrett, Professor Crawford and Associate Professor Wiffen continue to pursue their work improving the corneal graft and laser refractive surgery outcomes. Professor Crawford has the world’s largest series of the AlphaCor artificial cornea patients and has recently conducted an extensive review of these. Professor Barrett continues to be an innovative and highly in demand international speaker in the area of new developments in cataract surgery. All three are involved in new treatments for keratoconus and are investigating advanced techniques for new developments in corneal transplantation, including deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and endothelial keratoplasty.

Professor Morgan and Dr Giubilato are active in conducting trials and audits of difficult surgical

glaucoma cases. Professor Morgan is involved in trialling micro fistula, which was developed at the Institute to improve glaucoma outcomes in advanced cases unresponsive to other treatment.

Dr deSousa and Dr Gajdatsy are involved in the development of new surgical procedures in the area of oculoplastic and orbital surgery. Together with Associate Professor Tay-Kearney, they are involved in the teaching programme for medical students in Western Australia and registrar ophthalmologists. Associate Professor Tay-Kearney is also a key investigator on several multi-centre international drug trials for improving outcomes in chronic ocular inflammatory diseases in both children and adults.

One of the Institute’s major strengths is the involvement of its clinicians in both clinical and basic science research, ensuring that ideas developed are kept relevant to the blinding conditions found in society. LEI also has a major involvement in the provision of ophthalmic services to remote and indigenous communities and has developed telemedicine and remote area photographic screening techniques of some of the most common blinding conditions seen in these areas. These programmes are co-ordinated and reviewed through the Institute.

The clinical services and clinical research at LEI are only made possible by the dedication and professionalism of our staff and clinical co-ordinators in both the clinic and theatre areas.

Prof. Ian McAllister


Immunology & virology GroupREvIEw

Review Immunology & virology

The Immunology and Virology Group studies how the immune system deals with challenges imposed by infection and malignancy with the aim of defining the requirements for optimal immunity to pathogens and cancer.

Many viruses affect the eye, as well as the body as a whole. Our research uses a model of a chronic viral infection that can cause severe ocular complications, as well as significant systemic disease, especially in those whose immune systems are compromised. Much of the disease caused by this virus may be prevented by a better understanding of the immune responses required to limit chronic infection. Our research over the last few years has focused on understanding how immune responses can be improved to control on-going viral infection. Seminal research findings from our group have provided novel and exciting insights into the requirements for effective immune responses able to limit chronic viral infection. These results have

attracted much attention and have been the subject of numerous invited presentations at premier medical conferences both in Australia and overseas.

In addition, our group has continued to investigate the mechanisms used by viral pathogens to weaken host physiological responses. Pathogens achieve this by producing viral proteins that mimic, interfere with, or alter important cellular functions. Dr Christopher Andoniou’s team has identified and characterised several viral proteins that interfere with programmed cell death or apoptosis. Insights into how apoptotic pathways may be modulated can be used to design improved treatments for degenerative eye diseases caused by inappropriate cell death.

A number of eye diseases have an immune component, but the knowledge of immune responses in the eye remains limited. Dr Martin

Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti and Dr Chris Andoniou


continued research. The interactions with Prof Forrester will continue to build our strength in the field of ocular immunology.

Research Outcomes & Highlights• Defined the requirements for efficient long-term

immune responses

• Defined the requirements for improved control of chronic viral infections

• Tracked a pathogen infection of the eye in vivo

• Defined novel roles of proteases in limiting viral infection in vivo

• Defined novel aspects of programmed cell death

• Identified viral proteins that interfere with programmed cell death

• Invitations to numerous international premier conferences

• Growth of the Centre for Ocular Immunology

Major Sponsors

• NHMRC

• MHRIF

Zinkernagel has continued to pursue novel and exciting research to define the causes of eye diseases that have an immune component. His studies were the first to track a retinal pathogen in vivo. We are now exploiting the models established by Dr Zinkernagel to investigate the impact of viral infection in the aetiology and pathophysiology of diseases of the eye with an immune component.

In 2009 we continued to develop our ocular immunology program. In 2008 we were able to recruit Professor Paul McMenamin to LEI for a sabbatical year. His association with the Institute and the Centre for Ocular Immunology was strengthened and continued in 2009.

In 2009 we were also fortunate to have Professor John Forrester come to the Centre as a Visiting Raine Professor for a period of almost 2 months. Prof Forrester is a preeminent ophthalmologist and immunologist. He holds the Cockburn Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. His visit to the Institute cemented an on-going collaboration. Prof Forrester has developed the first model of spontaneous uveitis in mice and is transferring it to the program for


Ocular Immunology GroupREvIEw

She set up a collaboration with Professor Luis Serrano to use computational protein analysis and systems biology for the development of new strategies to treat inherited retinal diseases.

Research outcomes & highlights• Completion of large animal data interpretation

for AMD gene therapy

• New animal model for diabetic retinopathy complications

Sponsors

• UWA

• Retina Australia

• LSSF

• Western Australian Retinitis Pigmentosa Foundation

Review Molecular Ophthalmology Group

The molecular ophthalmology group continued to

focus its attention on diabetic retinopathy (DR)

and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

We produced a new animal model for DR. Our

PhD student Ms Irene Rahman won the Best

Poster Prize at the annual ASMR (Australian Society

for Medical Research) meeting for her work on the

ophthalmic characterization of the model.

The Brian King Fellow, Dr Nicolette Binz,

continued her efforts towards developing early

markers for diabetic retinopathy.

The long awaited production of the material for

the gene therapy trial commenced in 2009 and

we are excitedly waiting for the final quality

control results.

Professor Rakoczy spent 3 months’ sabbatical at

the Centre for Genomic Research in Barcelona.


Our group is interested in diseases of the eye which have an immune or inflammatory basis. Much of this work has arisen out of an interest in the basic biology of ocular Dendritic cells and macrophages which have been part of ongoing laboratory research for over 20 years. In 2009 Professor Paul McMenamin’s group continued the work commenced in 2008 when he moved his lab to LEI. Fruitful collaborations have continued with the top class basic cellular immunologists including Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti and Dr Tony Scalzo, molecular biologists and eye researchers such as Professor P. Elizabeth Rakoczy, and a number of leading ophthalmologists.

Research questions of interest to Professor McMenamin’s group include understanding the role of resident and trafficking immune cells in diseases as diverse as corneal inflammation, age-related macular degeneration and even diabetic retinopathy. The use of transgenic (knock-out and knock-in) and chimeric mice together with an arsenal of investigative tools that include immunofluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy and the Heidelberg scanning laser ophthalmoscope with OCT function allows us to gain new insights into the pathobiology of these diseases.

Some of our genetically modified animals allow us unique and novel views of immune cell function in living eyes – made possible because the transgenic mice have the ‘green fluorescent protein’ ‘reporter gene’ expressed by certain immune cell types. This enables us to watch the behaviour of these tagged cells over time.

Examples of projects currently underway are:

• The role of Toll-like receptors in the cornea in models of bacterial keratitis.

• Examining the effects of inflammation on the progression of diabetic retinopathy.

• The role of age, pigmentation and immune cells

in the pathology of age related macular degeneration.

• Comparative anatomy of the eye, including the retinal vascular anatomy of marsupials.

Research outcomes and highlights• Co-supervision of new PhD students, Dr Nina

Vagaja and Dr Martin Zinkernagel.

• Publication of seven research papers.

• Attendance at Association for Research Vision and Ophthalmology (Florida, May 2009)

• Success in obtaining major NHMRC funds for new project on the role of microglia in diabetic retinopathy (2010-2012).

• Visit by long standing collaborator Prof John Forrester (University of Aberdeen)

Sponsors

• 2008-2010 Establishment of ‘Centre for Ocular and Experimental Immunology’. Source: VC Discretionary Funds, Dean’s Discretionary Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, Lions Eye Institute

• NH&MRC

Review Molecular Ophthalmology Group Review Ocular Immunology Group

Dr Holly Chinnery with her supervisor Professor Paul McMenamin and her award ‘Runner Up for the Cora Verhagen Prize for Ocular Immunology’.


Molecular Ophthalmology GroupREvIEw

The Physiology and Pharmacology Group at LEI has continued to make significant progress in its efforts to develop new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches to the major sight threatening diseases in clinical ophthalmology. These diseases include diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases and glaucoma. During 2009, the group published seventeen papers in international ophthalmic journals with several more currently under review. The diverse range of topics studied included the development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic techniques that have evolved from our basic research programme. Several of our projects have advanced to the pre-clinical and clinical trial stage. The international trial of our patented microfistula treatment for glaucoma is progressing well and our US based commercialisation partners are continuing to refine the instruments and procedures. This technology, based on new concepts that have been proven by long term basic research, could provide a completely new approach to glaucoma surgery in clinical ophthalmology and benefit millions of glaucoma patients worldwide.

We were recently successful in competing for an extension out to 2013 of our Australian Research

Council Centre of Excellence in Vision Science Grant. In 2010 we will be seeking a renewal of our NHMRC Program Grant and a range of other grants to fund new initiatives.

Research outcomes & highlights• Completed the first phase of our research into

novel drugs for the prevention of scarring following glaucoma surgery

• Established methods for studying vascular and structural changes in the ageing human eye

• Completed our pilot study on new techniques using lasers for intraocular surgery.

• Published seventeen papers to date in 2009.

• Expanded collaborative links with research groups in the USA and China.

Sponsors

• NHMRC

• ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science

• State Government of Western Australia (MHRIF)

• Pharmaxis Australia PTY LTD

• UWA

Review Physiology & Pharmacology Group


Physiology & Pharmacology GroupREvIEw

Within the Centre for Experimental Immunology at LEI sits the Viral Immunogentics Group. This group’s research focuses on providing insights into novel mechanisms of viral immune evasion. This is considered to be an important step on the path towards developing therapies that limit the severity of viral diseases, including those that affect vision.

Severe acute diseases, caused by numerous viruses, can result in widely varying outcomes from death to being cured. A number of viruses have, over many years, evolved with their hosts and adopt quite different strategies for their life cycles. While large DNA viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) generally cause only asymptomatic infection in healthy individuals, they can be lethal or cause diseases such as retinitis in immunosuppressed individuals.

The work in this Group consists of several major themes. Firstly we are investigating the influence of host resistance genes that limit the severity of infection and which regulate NK cells, a key anti-viral effector cell. Research has shown that mouse CMV replication is regulated by the Cmv1 locus that encodes an NK cell activation receptor Ly49H. However, CMV can escape Ly49H surveillance by the emergence of escape mutants in the m157 ligand and many variants of m157 exist that engage inhibitory Ly49 receptors. Analyses of these interactions allows us to define how interactions with viral ligands by activation and inhibition receptors can be integrated by NK cells to determine if they are activated or inhibited.

The entry of large DNA viruses into target cells is dependent on a number of viral proteins and we are continuing our studies of a CMV protein called M73.5 that appears to have an important role in replication in mouse fibroblasts. Knowledge of how proteins are involved in viral entry may lead to the development of new strategies for controlling viral infections. This is pivotal for vaccine design.

Research outcomes & highlights• Investigating the consequences of sequence

variability of the MCMV m157 protein. These studies have defined differences in variant m157 binding to both activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors from a range of different inbred mouse strains and how this dictates the outcome of NK cell activation.

• Showing that a viral immune evasion molecule that can bind a cell adhesion molecule can affect viral virulence through effects on NK cells and cytotoxic T cell responses and by regulating cytokine and chemokine production.

• Demonstrating that CMV encodes a spliced viral gene involved in supporting viral replication and these spliced genes and transcripts are present in a range of betaherpesviruses.

Sponsors

• NHMRC

• MHRIF

Review Physiology & Pharmacology Group Review viral Immunogenetics Group

Assoc. Prof. Anthony Scalzo


viral Immunogenetics GroupREvIEw

Our Clinical Services2009 was another very busy year for the clinical divisions. The clinic has now expanded to the first floor and this has assisted LEI to better meet the patients’ needs. The clinical team has worked diligently to provide a first-class service to all new and existing patients and their carers. Our new digital cameras and associated upgraded equipment allow us to diagnose and treat patients very efficiently, often within a few hours. We continue to strive for excellence in patient care by conducting annual audits in which we compare our care with similar facilities across Australia. This enables us to review how we manage our patient care and enables us to identify new treatment and care initiatives. We continue to conduct many clinical trials that involve clinicians, researchers and excellent support staff.

The Day Surgery had another record year with the clinicians supporting our facility extremely well, allowing us to provide a cost-effective service to local, interstate and international patients. The staff continues to provide an excellent level of care and we plan to maintain this in 2010.

The Laser Vision centre performed a record number of procedures and we continue to market the facility to the general public, as well as provide comprehensive information to all patients. Patients can now attend LEI and have a free initial consultation with one of our optometrists, who will conduct a number of diagnostic tests to see whether the patient is suitable for LASIK and/or other treatment options.

We will continue to face the many challenges that lie ahead and strive to meet both our patients’ and staff members’ needs in a very demanding health environment.

Assoc. Professor Steven WiffenDirector Lions Eye Bank

Elizabeth Zambotti - Director of Nursing


Our Clinical Services

Our Clinical ServicesThe Lions Eye BankThe Lions Eye Bank of Western Australia had a fantastic year in 2009, with a total of 95 donors - our best donation numbers on record for a decade. Of 159 corneas collected, 140 were utilised, resulting in a satisfactory utilisation rate of 84%. 118 of these were retrieved locally in WA with 41 coming from interstate sources. 72 sclerae were supplied for surgery.

Despite record numbers of corneal transplants, a wait list of 90 people remained at the end of 2009. Over the last few years this number has fluctuated between 70 and 100 people, but there consistently remains a requirement for corneal transplants. Most people wait 9 to 12 months for a cornea to become available.

Research is supplementary to eye tissue donation and complements its use because some parts of the eye are not transplantable. Occasionally, after assessment and examination, corneal tissue may be considered unsuitable for transplantation but may still be suitable for use in ethically approved research projects, with the donor family’s consent. Not all donor families are comfortable with the concept of donating eye tissue for research as well as for transplantation. However, out of the 58 local (WA) donors who donated eye tissue in 2009, 51 consented to assist with research, only 6 declined and 47 were able to be used for current research projects.

The Lions Eye Bank of Western Australia is supported by each individual who chooses to register as an eye donor and whose families support this choice by giving their consent. We are immensely grateful to all these people. Their altruistic donation means that we are able to continue the work that we do in the Western Australian community and provide the chance of sight or improved quality of life for those with eye diseases.

If you are considering registering as an eye tissue donor, please contact the Australian Organ Donor Register on 1800 777 203, for an information booklet, or collect one from the Lions Eye Institute, or any Medicare office. Please remember, it is critical to discuss your decision with your family. When a registered donor has made his/her wishes clear, the family or next of kin will usually confirm the decision to donate.

Lions OpticsLions Optics, conveniently located adjacent to LEI, offers both eye examinations and a wide range of spectacles, contact lenses, sunglasses and accessories. They now also carry a wide range of low-vision aids. Lions Optics offers the combined expertise of two optometrists and a qualified optical dispenser, ensuring our clients receive the highest standard of clinical care. Now in its second decade of operation, all profits from Lions Optics are directed towards LEI’s sight-saving research. Standard optometrist examinations can be bulk billed to Medicare and Lions Optics is a HBF Gold participating provider. For further information or an appointment please telephone (08) 9381 3860.


Our Clinical Services

Our CliniciansProfessor Graham Barrett (Keratorefractive surgery, corneal and anterior segment disorders and surgery)

Trained in ophthalmology in Perth, Western Australia, Professor Barrett undertook specialty training in

the USA. He is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon and Head of Department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Professor Barrett is founding and current president, Australasian Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons and president, Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. He is the recipient of major international awards including the Ridley Medal (European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons), the Binkhorst Medal (American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons) and the Ridley Medal (Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgeons).

Professor Ian Constable AO (Vitreoretinal surgery, retinal vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration)

Professor Constable trained in ophthalmology in New South Wales before moving to Harvard

University and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston USA where he spent five years as a Clinical and Research Fellow, then Lecturer and Acting Head of the Retinal Service. He became the Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Western Australia in 1975 and built the clinical and research teams which now constitute the Lions Eye Institute. He has held many global leadership positions in ophthalmology including President of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, a Member of the International Council of Ophthalmology and a Member of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis. He maintains a busy clinical practice at Sir Charles Gairdner, Princess Margaret and St John of God Hospitals, he is extensively involved in laboratory and gene therapy research for retinal diseases. He was Managing Director of the Lions Eye Institute from 1983 to 2009.

Professor Geoffrey Crawford (Corneal disorders and surgery; cataract and refractive surgery)

Professor Crawford completed his ophthalmic training in Western Australia before undertaking further sub-specialty training in Oculoplastic

Surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and then Cornea and Refractive Surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, USA. He is the Director of Surgical Services and the Director of the Laser Vision Centre at the Lions Eye Institute and is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Royal Perth Hospital and


Princess Margaret Hospital. Professor Crawford has held many positions within RANZCO including Director of Continuing Professional Development, Chairman of the Programme Committee and Chairman of Examiners. He is a co-inventor of the AlphaCorTM artificial cornea and AlphaSphereTM orbital implant and developed the techniques for insertion of these devices. He also introduced LASIK surgery into Western Australia.

Dr Jean-Louis deSousa (Oculoplastics, orbital and lacrimal surgery, cosmetic eyelid surgery)

Dr deSousa trained in ophthalmology in Perth before completing fellowships in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery in Oxford

and East Grinstead in the UK. He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons. A consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Perth Hospital he also provides ophthalmic services to the central wheatbelt from Merredin. Dr deSousa is the WA representative for continuing professional development and a basic sciences examiner for RANZCO.

Dr Adam Gajdatsy (Oculoplastic, orbital, lacrimal and cosmetic eye surgery)

Dr Gajdatsy trained in ophthalmology in Western Australia before undertaking fellowship training in oculoplastic, lacrimal and orbital surgery at the University Hospital

of Wales, Cardiff, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London. He is consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and an honorary consultant ophthalmologist at Princess Margaret Hospital. Dr Gajdatsy is a State Councillor for RANZCO, Western Australian Director of Training for RANZCO, Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons and coordinator of ophthalmology teaching at UWA. His research interests currently include novel methods of eyelid reconstruction and tear drainage following chemotherapy for breast cancer.


PublicationsOur Clinical Services

Our CliniciansDr Antonio Giubilato (Glaucoma)

After training in ophthalmology in Perth, Western Australia, Dr Giubilato underwent specialty fellowship training in glaucoma at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. This

included both clinical and surgical management of glaucoma as well as research into new therapies for the condition. He is presently consultant ophthalmologist in the Glaucoma Clinic at Royal Perth Hospital and also consults at Bentley Hospital for public patients. Dr Giubilato is currently Director of Training for the WA branch of RANZCO and an LSSF Board Member.

Dr Tim Isaacs (Vitreoretinal surgery, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal vascular disease)

After training in ophthalmology in the UK, Dr Isaacs completed sub-specialty training in vitreoretinal surgery at Royal

Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. He is a consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Perth Hospital and also practises at LEI’s satellite clinic

at Murdoch. His research interests include the evaluation of new therapies for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Dr Isaacs is also actively involved in third world ophthalmology and the provision of high volume cataract surgery in Nepal.

Professor Ian McAllister (Vitreoretinal surgery, retinal vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, ocular trauma)

Professor McAllister undertook training in Western Australia with additional sub-specialty training in

vitreoretinal disorders in the USA. He is Director of Clinical Services at LEI and a consultant ophthalmologist at King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women and the Royal Perth, Sir Charles Gairdner and Princess Margaret Hospitals. Professor McAllister is actively involved in research for cures for vitreoretinal disorders, especially retinal vascular disorders, and has held seven NHMRC grants in this area. He has been involved for many years in statewide diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment services and coordinates and reviews photographs from diabetic screening in remote parts of Western Australia.


Grants

Professor william Morgan (Glaucoma, ophthalmic public health)

Also trained in Perth, Western Australia, Professor Morgan undertook his fellowship at the Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science based at LEI. A

consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Perth and Princess Margaret Hospitals, he is a Professor at UWA and also Co-Director of LEI’s McCusker Glaucoma Centre. He has completed a doctorate in philosophy studying the response of the optic nerve to pressure, particularly in relation to glaucoma. Professor Morgan maintains an active research interest in glaucoma as well as the epidemiology of blinding eye disease and aboriginal eye disease.

Assoc. Professor Mei-Ling Tay-Kearney (Opportunistic infections, uveitis and inflammatory disorders of the eye)

Associate Professor Tay-Kearney completed her medical and ophthalmological

training in Perth, Western Australia before pursuing postgraduate study at Johns Hopkins

Hospital in Baltimore, USA. She is an Associate Professor at COVS/UWA and a member of The International Society for Ocular Inflammation, as well as the Australian Uveitis Study Group. She holds the Chair of Qualifications and Education as well as an Examiner for the RANZCO Part 2 College examinations.

Assoc. Professor Steven wiffen(Ocular surface disorders, corneal and refractive surgery, anterior segment disorders & surgery)

Associate Professor Wiffen trained in ophthalmology in Western Australia before undertaking

fellowships at the Corneo-Plastic Unit, East Grinstead, UK, and at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. Associate Professor Wiffen is a consultant ophthalmologist at Fremantle Hospital and a Senior Lecturer at UWA. He is Director of the Lions Eye Bank of Western Australia.


Our Clinicians

The Lions Eye Institute (LEI) is one of the largest eye research facilities in the southern hemisphere. The Institute has been built on a reputation of delivering world class research and clinical services for over twenty five years. It is the ongoing commitment to maintain this standard that allows the Institute to continue to attract both individual and corporate support in the form of donations and gifts-in-kind. It is the responsibility of the Development and Media Group to secure additional financial support that assists in closing the gap between the ever increasing costs of

research and income derived through highly competitive grant processes.

Through a range of media and public relations activities the Development and Media Group showcases to the wider community LEI’s research successes and clinical activities. Some of the more notable media highlights for 2009 were:

All clear for Health MinisterIn recognition of the importance of raising community awareness of glaucoma, the Minister of Health, The Hon. Dr Kim Hames MLA toured the Institute on National Glaucoma Day in September with the Managing Director, Professor David Mackey and Director of Research, Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti. After having a glaucoma test during his visit, Dr Hames was given the ‘all clear’ by Professor Mackey.

Local Swimmer tested by one of LEI’s finestMaggie Earl, local Perth swimmer, had her eyes tested by Professor Bill Morgan as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of glaucoma on World Glaucoma Day in March. Research at LEI has demonstrated that wearing

small

“The procurement of additional funds through bequests and donations allows LEI to continue to pursue its lofty goal of eradicating preventable blindness.”Helen Rowe, Director of Development

Our Shared vision

Helen Rowe (centre) Janet Burchell & Sarah Thomson


goggles elevates the eye pressure, placing those swimmers who wear them at greater risk of developing glaucoma. Professor Morgan spoke with Maggie and recommended that swimmers wear large goggles to minimize their risk of developing glaucoma, which is the second commonest cause of blindness in Australia.

The Lions Save-Sight Foundation continues its great workThe Lions Save-Sight Foundation (LSSF) works tirelessly to raise funds for the Institute. Over the years they have donated much needed equipment, including most recently a Heidelberg Spectralis camera, dedicated entirely to research purposes. Working in conjunction with the Lions Clubs of WA, the foundation focused its efforts this year on Dr Nicolette Binz. Dr Binz is the current holder of the foundation’s Brian King Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and her work

aims to discover markers that will facilitate in

identifying patients with diabetes at risk of

developing sight-threatening retinopathy. The

foundation conceived the ‘Donate a Mouse’

fundraising drive to raise much needed support

for Dr. Binz’s work. The drive has been a huge

success with all Lions Clubs of WA supporting

the project. As a result, Dr. Binz has been able to

start 2010 with ample funds to continue her vital

research. She is very grateful not only to LSSF,

but every Lion in Western Australia. Fundraising

efforts will be ongoing to ensure the long term

future of this unique project.

LSSF is also responsible for a recycling program of a different order. 2009 saw the delivery of thousands of pairs of glasses to countries in need. Now into almost forty years of glasses recycling, the LSSF programme continues to elicit support from several new social groups of large public companies. HBF and Rio Tinto are the

latest companies to introduce the programme to members of staff, who have collected many hundreds of pairs of glasses.

Early in 2009, Invocare WA, one of the leading funeral homes in Western Australia, introduced the recycling of glasses of loved ones into its group. As a result of this initiative LSSF was the recipient of several hundreds of pairs of glasses throughout the year.

Many schools in WA are eager to help, also, and have introduced it as part of students’ community service.

LSSF sends only prescription glasses to overseas countries. Sunglasses and cases are sold by the Lions Club of Morley at its swap meet and the money made is returned to the Foundation to aid research at the Institute.

Last year, glasses from LSSF were sent to Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Uganda.


Our Shared vision

Pilbara Aboriginal Eye Health ProgramThe regular retinal screening undertaken in 2009 in the remote indigenous communities in the Pilbara continued to promote the necessity of eye health care throughout the region. The communities of Jigalong, Tom Price, South Hedland, Roebourne, Onslow, Nullagine, Newman and Marble Bar were included in the screening schedule conducted by eye health professional, Gwyneth White. The focus of the screening program continues to be the identification of diabetes-related eye disease and the provision of a valuable sight-saving service. Ms White is a trained diabetes educator and, when time permits, conducts diabetes awareness sessions in the communities to help prevent debilitating eye disease. Since 2004, BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s generous support has enabled LEI to play a major role in its quest to eradicate preventable blindness in the region. The partnership between LEI and BHP Billiton

Iron Ore is totally committed to improving eye health in remote Aboriginal communities and will continue to ensure optimum outcomes are achieved in these communities in the future.

Community SupportDedicated ladies turn a profit

The Mandurah Murray Mayday Club (Inc) had its humble beginnings in 1973 when a group of parents with brain-injured children wanted to raise

money to purchase a bus and open a special school. Second-hand clothes were sold from a tiny rented shop.

This ethos of helping people carries through to the present day where volunteers work in the two second-hand clothing shops located in Mandurah and Barragup. The shops have clothing bins placed around the Mandurah area where people can donate their second-hand clothing and bric-a-brac. All funds raised at these shops, which are operated totally by volunteers, are donated to a variety of charities and needy causes.

LEI has been a grateful recipient since 2003 and over that time has received $12,000. We would like to extend our gratitude to the hard working volunteers at Mandurah Murray Mayday Club (Inc) for their ongoing support of the Institute.

Corporate SupportSpecial ThanksLEI is grateful for the generous support of:JLTShephard Family Trust

Verve Energy

LEI is appreciative of ongoing donations via staff giving programs run by organisations such as Verve Energy, WA’s biggest energy generation company. This process of donating is hassle-free, tax deductible and enables staff to enjoy the benefits of their philanthropic actions.

“Flu Expert” Key Note Speaker for the 2009 IJC Lecture

The annual Ian Constable Lecture acknowledges the contributions of Professor Ian Constable AO, Foundation Professor of Ophthalmology at The University of Western Australia (UWA) and Founding Managing Director of the Lions Eye Institute.

This year’s lecture was held on Monday the 5th October at the Octagon Theatre at UWA in

Our Shared vision


conjunction with the Institute of Advanced Studies. The 2009 lecture was presented by Professor Anne Kelso, Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza. Professor Kelso’s research interest and areas of expertise are immunology, especially T-cell activation and function. Interest in influenza was extremely topical given the global concern around swine flu and the search for a cure.

The lecture was very successful with over 200 people in attendance. Professor Kelso fielded many interesting questions from the audience on this topical subject.

The spirit of support shines brightest at ChristmasThe annual Visionary Luncheon was held at LEI on November 30th 2009. The event provides the Institute with the opportunity to recognise and thank some of its most committed supporters.

Director of Research, Professor Mariapia Degli-

Esposti, provided an overview on the current

research projects being undertaken at the

Institute. Professor Mackey and the Institute’s

Chairman, David Eiszele, were present to

personally thank those in attendance for their

ongoing support.

How you can helpResearch projects often raise as many questions as they answer. Your donation ensures LEI has resources on hand to pursue unforseen, yet promising, research opportunities as they become known. These funds help cover the gap

between government funding and the true costs of research. The research conducted at the Institute relies heavily on financial support from the wider community.

Many people are in a position to offer a significant gift to LEI in their lifetime. Such philanthropic gestures inspire LEI’s researchers, and provide them with the resources they need to succeed. Just as significantly, however, these gifts offer donors an opportunity to view first hand the impact of their generosity in the quest for answers. While some donors prefer to direct their donation towards a specific project or the acquisition of major items of equipment, others choose to fund a scholarship in order to assist the next generation.

As Australia’s population ages, both the incidence and costs associated with blindness will increase exponentially. We must act now if we are to meet this challenge.

The Lions Eye Institute Limited is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient with the Australian Taxation Office and all donations over $2 will be receipted. For a confidential discussion on making a donation to LEI, please contact the Development and Media Group on (08) 9381 0708, or alternatively:

• Forward a cheque/money order payable to the Lions Eye Institute Limited to:

Lions Eye Institute Limited, Reply Paid 62815, NEDLANDS WA 6009 (no stamp required); or

• Contact the Development and Media Group on (08) 9381 0708 with your credit card details.


Our Shared vision

A Lasting Legacywas shepherded with another airman through Belgium, France and over the border into neutral Spain. He eventually found his way to Gibraltar where he boarded a British ship. Mr Davies was a war hero who was awarded the DFC.

He was a man who honoured his obligations. In later life he brought to Australia for holidays two young descendants of the Belgian farmer and also the nurse, who was working in a leper colony in Ethiopia and was made a Countess by the Belgian Government.

Mr and Mrs Davies did not have children of their own and Mr Davies became an active member of Perth Legacy, caring for the widows and children of deceased servicemen, a role he adopted with great dedication and commitment.

Mr Davies took up the cause of widows of servicemen who were not eligible for a war widows’ pension, especially those servicemen who died of cancer. He had to deal with the then Repatriation Department and after examining many files and cases became extremely knowledgeable regarding numerous medical conditions. He corresponded with many distinguished doctors in Australia and was highly regarded by them. Possessed of the necessary information he went into battle with the Department. His relationship with Repat Civil Servants was one of mutual antipathy as he fought to obtain justice for Legacy widows. His campaign was successful and he has been described as the saint of war widows’ pensions. He was eventually made a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his service.

After retiring to Nedlands, Mr Davies predeceased his wife by a number of years. When Mrs Davies came to make a new Will, her main criterion for making bequests was that she wanted to reward medical science organisations undertaking research into diseases affecting old people.

An Unexpected BequestMrs Mercy Davies died in 2009 aged 99. Neither Mrs Davies, nor her late husband Ivan, had any connection with the Lions Eye Institute, so it came as a very pleasant surprise when the Institute received a bequest of more than $750,000 from Mrs Davies’ residuary estate.

They were both from Victoria and moved to WA at the end of the war to take up farming in the Manjimup area. Like many young men at the time, Mr Davies lied about his age in order to join the RAAF as air crew during the Second World War. His plane was shot down and he bailed out, injuring his leg in the process. He hobbled to a field of corn where he was found, and subsequently protected, by a Belgian farmer. The farmer introduced him to a young nurse who was involved with the Comet Line, an escape route set up to aid downed Allied air crew. Mr Davies was the 34th escapee sent down the line and he


Accordingly, after some small personal bequests, she left the bulk of her considerable estate to four organisations, of which LEI was one.

Mr and Mrs Davies worked selflessly to redress injustice and to improve the lot of others less fortunate than themselves. The fact that they left a large bequest to an organisation from which they received no direct benefit is a testament to their philanthropic nature and an example that others may wish to follow.

By including a bequest to LEI in your Will you can ensure the Institute remains at the cutting edge of research and clinical excellence. The value of your bequest is as significant as your decision to give, and this simple gesture will offer hope for future generations.

Making a bequest is as simple as including the following wording in your Will:

I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH to the LIONS EYE INSTITUTE LIMITED free from all duties, the following (please specify) and direct that the receipt of the Managing Director for the time being will be a sufficient discharge to my Trustees / Executor.

Preparing and updating your Will is one of the most important duties you will ever undertake and ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes. A free Will and advisory service is available for anyone wishing to substantially include LEI in their Will. Further information can also be found in our Preserving the Gift of Sight brochure. For a confidential discussion on including a bequest to LEI in your Will, or to request a brochure, please contact the Development Group on (08) 9381 0708.

LEI remains indebted to those who have been inspired to make a bequest to LEI. Such gestures are very much appreciated and we acknowledge with gratitude the following individuals who bequeathed to LEI during 2009:

The Estate of the late Dulcie Armstrong

The Estate of the late Alan and Lilian Cameron

The Estate of the late Jeanette Cavanagh

The Estate of the late Louise Crutchett

The Estate of the late Mercy Davies

The Estate of the late Frederick Jones

The Estate of the late Margaret Kerman

The Estate of the late Ida Muller

The Estate of the late Livio Nicolini

The Estate of the late Elizabeth Reid

The Estate of the late Audrey Shaw


25th Anniversary Year Events

Appointments, Awards & Honours

Dr Christopher AndoniouAustralasian Society for Immunology -Treasurer

2010 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Society for Immunology – Chair of organising committee

Professor Graham BarrettSir Charles Gairdner Hospital - Head of Department; Consultant Ophthalmologist

University of Western Australia - Clinical Professor

Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons - President

Australasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons - President

International Intraocular Implant Club - Secretary

American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery - Member

European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery - Member

International Society of Refractive Keratoplasty - Member

Chris BarryAustralian Institute of Medical and Biological Illustration - Fellow

Ophthalmic Photographers’ Society - Fellow

Dr Nicolette BinzLions Save-Sight Foundation - Brian King Fellowship

Dr Holly ChinneryAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology - Runner Up, The Cora Verhagen Prize for Ocular Immunology

University of Western Australia - Winner, Prizes for Higher Degree by Research Achievement (Biological Sciences category).

Professor Ian Constable AOLions Eye Institute Limited – Past Managing Director

Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis - Member

Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology - Past-President

Scientific Advisory Council, Western Australian Institute for Medical Research - Member

State Facilities Council for Centres of Excellence - Member

State Health Research Advisory Council - Member

University of Western Australia - Foundation Lions Professor of Ophthalmology, Centre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

West Australian Science and Innovation Council - Deputy Chairman

Professor Geoffrey CrawfordLions Eye Institute Limited - Director of Surgical Services; Director, Laser Vision Centre

University of Western Australia - Professor of Ophthalmology, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Royal Perth Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

Princess Margaret Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

“For me, doing scientific research for a living is such an honour. To receive an award at an international meeting in front of my peers, mentors and other distinguished researchers, well, that’s just icing on the cake.”Dr Holly Chinnery, Ocular Immunology


Tokushima University, Japan - Visiting Professor

Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons - Executive Committee Member

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (WA Branch) - Executive Committee member

Australian and New Zealance Cornea Society - Executive Committe Member

Professor Mariapia A Degli-EspostiImmunology and Cell Biology Journal, Editorial Board – Member

Raine Medical Research Foundation – Research Committee Member

NHMRC – Recipient, Program Grant to commence in 2010

NHMRC – Recipient, Project Grant

ARC – Recipient ARC LIEF Grant

Lions Eye Institute Limited - Co-Director, Centre for Experimental Immunology

Lions Eye Institute Limited – Director of Research

Dr Jean-Louis deSousaAustralian and New Zealand Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons - Member

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists - Fellow; CPD representative; Basic sciences examiner

Royal Perth Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmologist

Dr Marie EstcourtRaine Foundation - Raine Priming Grant

RG Menzies Foundation - Board Member

RG Menzies Memorial Scholar Association - Treasurer/Secretary

Dr Adam GajdatsyAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology - International Member

Australian and New Zealand Society of

Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons - Fellow

Princess Margaret Hospital - Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists – Director of Training WA network, Fellow; State Councillor

Royal College of Physicians of the UK - Member

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital – RANZCO training supervisor, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon

University of Western Australia - Senior Lecturer; Teaching Coordinator, Ophthalmology; Postgraduate Anatomy Lecturer

Dr Antonio GiubilatoLions Save-Sight Foundation - Board Member

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (WA Branch) - Director of Training (WA)

Royal Perth Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmologist, Glaucoma Clinic

ANZGIG (Australia and New Zealand Glaucoma Interest group) Committee - State representative

Dr Tim IsaacsRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists - Fellow


The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK) - Fellow

Professor Yogesan KanagasingamLions Eye Institute Limited - Director, Centre for e-Health

WA Inventor of the Year Awards 2008 - Runner Up in the Early Stage category; Mitsubishi Corporation Encouragement Award

American Academy of Ophthalmology - Member/Teleophthalmology Course Coordinator

Australasian Telehealth Society - President

Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine


A Lasting Legacy

Appointments, Awards & Honours- Committee Member of Working Group 9 to establish international digital imaging standard in ophthalmology

International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics, Holland - Vice President of Board of Directors

International Society for Telemedicine and e-Health - Member of the Scientific Advisory Committee

National Health and Medical Research Council - Senior Research Fellow

Standards Australia - Member of Telehealth Sub-committee

University of Western Australia - Professor, Centre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

WA Department of Health - Committee Member of Health Network Telehealth Innovation Group

winthrop Professor David A MackeyLions Eye Institute Limited – Managing Director

University of Western Australia – Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Lions Save-Sight Foundation – Board Member

Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia – Board Member

Australian Society of Ophthalmic & Vision Science – Board Member

Asia Pacific Society of Eye Genetics – Board Member

Glaucoma Research Society – Invited Member

University of Tasmania – University Foundation Graduate Award (March 2009)

NHMRC Panel for the evidence based medicine guidelines for glaucoma – Member

Ophthalmology Planning Group at Fiona Stanley Hospital – Member

Neurosciences & the Senses Health Network eye health advisory group – Member

RANZCO Annual Scientific Meeting – Member of scientific program committee

Asia ARVO 2011 Symposium – Member of organising committee

Professor Ian McAllisterLions Eye Institute - Deputy Director, Clinical Services; Consultant Ophthalmologist

American Academy of Ophthalmology - Member

Australian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness - Director

Australian Medical Association - Member

Cleveland Ophthalmological Society - Member

Cocos Keeling Islands & Christmas Island, Indian Ocean - Visiting Consultant Ophthalmologist

Northern Greece Ophthalmological Society - Member

Oceanic Retina Association - Member

Retina Society - Member

Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists - Member

Royal Australian College of Surgeons - Member


Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmologist

University of Western Australia - Professor of Ophthalmology, Centre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Professor william MorganLions Eye Institute Limited - Consultant Ophthalmologist

Association for the Blind of Western Australia - Honorary Ophthalmic Consultant to the Board of Directors

Australian New Zealand Glaucoma Interest Group - Board Member

Curtin University - Associate Professor


National Health and Medical Research Council - Chair, Development of Guidelines for the Management of Glaucoma Working Committee;

Training Awards Committee - Member Assessment Panel

Princess Margaret Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmologist

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists - Member


University of Western Australia - Professor Associate Professor Tony Scalzo

Lions Eye Institute Limited - Co-Director, Centre for Experimental Immunology

Frank ShiltonOphthalmic Photographer Society - Member

Certified Retinal Angiographer

Associate Professor Mei-Ling Tay-Kearney

Australian Society for HIV Medicine - Member

Australian Uveitis Study Group - Member

International Ocular Inflammation Society - Member

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists - Qualifications and Education Committee Chair, RACE Examiner

University of Western Australia - Senior Lecturer

Ireni Ali Rahman

Australian Society for Medical Research Symposium – Edith Cowan University Award for best presentation

There is a gorgeous shot of Ireni which could be used in this section if space permits (she is one of the Mol Op group)

Professor P. Elizabeth Rakoczy

Lions Eye Institute Limited - Head of Molecular Ophthalmology

Animal Resources Authority of Western Australia - Board Member

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology - International Member Committee (invited committee member)

International Society for Eye Research - Membership Committee Member

National Health and Medical Research Council - Invited Medical Science Reviewer

Retina International Scientific Committee - Committee Member

International Society for Ophthalmology and Cell Biology (ISCOB) - Organizing Committee Member; Foundation Board Member

Associate Professor Steven wiffenLions Eye Bank of Western Australia - Director

Fremantle Hospital - Consultant Ophthalmologist

University of Western Australia – Associate Professor

Professor Dao-Yi Yu

University of Western Australia – Winthrop Professor

Lions Eye Institute Limited - Director, Physiology and Pharmacology Centre, Centre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Co-Director, McCusker Glaucoma Centre, Centre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

Dalhousie University, Canada - Professor (Adjunct)

Fundan University, Shanghai, China - Professor (Adjunct)

Elizabeth ZambottiAustralian Day Hospital Association - President (WA); Executive Committee Member

Australian Day Nurses Association - Member

Australian Private Hospital Association - Member

Australian Private Hospital Association (Day Surgery) WA – Chair



Collaborators & visitorsPopulation Health and Genetics

Professor Anthony Moore - the Duke Elder Professor of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

Lisa Kearns - Orthoptist and Genetic Counsellor, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne.

Centre for e-Health –

Mr Noam Allon - Ophthalmic Imaging Systems Global, USA

Prof. Rafat Ansari- NASA Glenn Research Center and The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences, Houston, USA

Dr Margaret Crowley - Association for the Blind of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

Assoc. Prof. Jorge Cuadros - School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Assoc. Prof. Len Goldschmidt - US Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, USA

Prof. Richard Hartley - Australian National University & NICTA, Canberra, Australia

Prof. Ralph Matin - Centre of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Care, Hollywood Hospital, Perth, Australia

Mr Rajiv Ramaprasad - World Healthcare, Malaysia

Dynatouch - San Antonia, Texas, USA

Dr Geoff Lam, Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth

Dr Trang Ly, Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth Dr Dimitri Yellachich, Fremantle Hospital, Perth Microsoft Australia (.NET Project)

Prof Tim Davis, Fremantle Hospital, Perth

Centre for Experimental Immunology

Prof. Matt Brown - Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Assist. Prof. Michael Brown - Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

Prof. John Forrester – University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

Prof. Ian Frazer - Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Prof. Chris Goodnow – Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Assist. Prof. Jon Heusel - Department of Pathology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA

Prof. Geoff Hill - Bone Marrow Transplant Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia

Dr David Huang - Molecular Genetics of Cancer Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia

Prof. Lambert Loh - University of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Prof. Paul McMenamin - School of Anatomy and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

Prof. Mark Smyth - Cancer Immunology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia

Prof. Ranjeny Thomas - Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Prof. Rolf Zinkernagel - Institute for Experimental Immunology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

Molecular Ophthalmology

Prof. Chong-Lye Ang - Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore


Dr Lee Shu Yen - Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore

Dr Nigel Barnett - Vision, Touch & Hearing Research Centre, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia

Prof. Miranda Grounds - School of Anatomy and Human Biology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

Prof. Kristina Narfstrom - College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, USA

Prof. Jude Samulski - University of North Carolina, USA

Prof Luis Serrano - Centre for Genomic research, Barcelona, Spain

Ocular Immunology

Prof. John Forrester - Department of Ophthalmology, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK

Prof. Eric Pearlman - Director of Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA

Prof. Charles NJ McGhee - Chair, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Dr Shirley Sarks and Dr Svetana Cheparoff - Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia

Dr Simon Watkins - Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA

Physiology & Pharmacology

Prof. Balawantray Chauhan - Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada

Prof. Tom Gardner - Penn State University, Pennsylvania, USA

Prof. Wenyi Guo - Fudan University, China

Prof. Mark Humayun - Doheny Eye Institute, California, USA

Prof. Trevor Lamb - Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Prof. Jonathan Stone – Sydney University, Sydney, Australia

Prof. Jan Provis - Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Prof. Xinghuau Sun - Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Dr Xiaobo Yu - Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Dr Gerhard Zinser - Heidelberg Engineering, Germany

AqueSys - USA

Pharmaxis - Australia



Conferences and Invited Lectures

January 2009 Asia-ARVO Hyderabad, India

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Genetics of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Asia-ARVO Hyderabad, India

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Genetics in the Diagnosis of Optic Atrophy

Asia-ARVO Hyderabad, India

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Genes and environment in myopia: the Twins Eye Studies in Tasmania and Brisbane

BIOS, Photonics West San Jose, USA

Dr Joe Miller, Dr Xiaobo Yu, Assistant Professor Paula K. Yu, Professor Stephen J. Cringle, winthrop Professor Dao-Yi YuOral: Intraocular tissue ablation using an optical fibre to deliver the 5th harmonic of a Nd:YAG

Euro-Pacific Eyecare Conference Selva, Val Gardena, Italy

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Genetics of Eye Disease (2 talks)

February 2009 National University of Singapore, Immunology ProgrammeSingapore

Professor Mariapia Degli-EspostiInvited Seminar

Inaugural Gerard Crock Lecture Centre of Eye Research Australia, Melbourne, Victoria

winthrop Professor David MackeyNamed Lecture: The ‘I’ in Personalised Genetics

March 2009 5th Cellular Therapy SymposiumNuremberg, Germany

Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti Invited Plenary Speaker

RANZCO WA Branch MeetingMargaret River, Western Australia

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Paediatric cataract to operate early or not

RANZCO WA Branch MeetingMargaret River, Western Australia

Professor Ian McAllisterInvited Speaker: Dislocated IOL and lens exchange

Princess Margaret Hospital clinicians meetingPerth, Western Australia

winthrop Professor David MackeyInvited Speaker: X marks the spot: targeting recessive eye diseases for gene therapy

Garvan Twin Research MeetingMelbourne, Victoria

winthrop Professor David Mackey

“By attending conferences, scientists not only get to share their own results with their scientific peers, they keep abreast of current research trends and ‘what’s hot’ in their field. Sometimes this helps in formulating new ideas and approaches that help in making important new breakthroughs and progress in their own research”.Associate Professor Tony Scalzo,

Head of Viral Immunogenetics


Invited Speaker: Finding genes for glaucoma by involving cases, families, twins and populations: The Australian Twin Registry

April 2009 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, San Francisco USA

Professor Graham BarrettSpeaker: True K formula: new approach to biometry after LASIK

Glaucoma Australia WA Branch, Glaucoma Support Group Perth, Western Australia

winthrop Professor David MackeyInvited Speaker: Glaucoma in Families

6th Australasian Gene Therapy SocietySydney, New South Wales

winthrop Professor Piroska RakoczyInvited speaker: Triumphs and Tribulations of a Gene Therapy Trial

May 2009 International Congress of Ophthalmology Cuba

Associate Professor Mei-Ling Tay-KearneySpeaker: Investigations in Posterior Uveitis

Association for Research In Vision and Ophthalmology Fort Lauderdale, USA

NJ van Bergen, IA Trounce, winthrop Professor David Mackey, Dr Alex Hewitt, G Kong, J Crowston Oral: Decreased Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation in Autosomal Dominant Optic Atrophy


CF Inglehearn, Kv Towns, A Kipioti, v Long, M McKibbin, R Ramesar, winthrop Professor David Mackey,

A Moore, EA Pierce, JD Beggs Oral: Prognosis for PRPF-RP and Correlation of Phenotype Severity Between Humans and Yeast With the Same Mutations, Suggesting a Common Mechanism


Dr Martin Zinkernagel, Dr Holly Chinnery, Claire Petitjean, Dr Matthew wikstrom, winthrop Professor Paul McMenamin, Professor Mariapia Degli-Esposti Oral: In vivo imaging of mCMV infection in the murine eye

Association for Research In Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, USA

winthrop Professor David Mackey, L Kearns, C wilson, G Silvestri, Aw Hewitt, J Ruddle, N Martin, JE Craig, C Hammond Oral: Ocular Dominance, Refraction and Axial Length in Australian Twins

APAO-AAO Joint Congress 2009, Bali

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Ophthalmic Education and Leadership Development OE-S6

What should we teach our eye residents when they begin their training

APAO-AAO Joint Congress 2009 Bali

winthrop Professor David MackeySession Moderator: Laboratory Eye Research Symposium Laboratory Research in Glaucoma.

Speaker during session: Genetic epidemiology of glaucoma using twins.


Collaborators & visitors

Conferences and Invited LecturesJune 2009 New Zealand Australasian Society for Immunology 2009 Wellington, New Zealand

Professor Mariapia Degli-EspostiInvited Plenary Speaker

Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Symposium, Perth, Australia

Ireni Ali RahmanOral presentation: Characterisation of the Akimba mouse – a model for Diabetic Retinopathy

Dare Shott Lecture RANZCO Paediatric Special Interest Group Noosa Queensland

winthrop Professor David MackeyNamed Lecture: LHON or ONH?

RANZCO Paediatric Special Interest Group Noosa Queensland

winthrop Professor David MackeySpeaker: Unilateral cataract surgery

July 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society for Microbiology, Perth, WA

Associate Professor Anthony ScalzoInvited Symposium Speaker: Consequences of host receptor and viral ligand variation on mouse NK cell recognition

World Glaucoma Congress, Boston, USA

winthrop Professor David MackeyPresentation: Myocilin and glaucoma

Menzies Institute, Hobart, Tasmania

winthrop Professor David MackeyInvited Speaker: Genetic Eye Disease Research in Tasmania: an historical perspective

August 2009 Bali International Ophthalmic Retreat,Bali, Indonesia

Professor Ian McAllisterInvited Speaker: Management of dislocated IOL

Invited Speaker: Retinal folds, causes and management

2009 School Seminar Program, School of Molecular & Biomedical ScienceThe University of Adelaide, South Australia

Professor Mariapia Degli-EspostiInvited Seminar

Neil Gollan LectureLaunceston General Hospital, Tasmania

winthrop Professor David MackeyNamed Lecture: Hereditary Optic Atrophy in Tasmania

WA Vision Education Optometry ConferenceFremantle, Western Australia

winthrop Professor David MackeyInvited Speaker: Genetics of Glaucoma


Chris BarryInvited Speaker: Spectral Domain OCT: an update


Chris BarryInvited Speaker: SD-OCT workshops X6


19th Combined Biological Science MeetingPerth, Western Australia

Ireni Ali Rahman, Dr Nina vagaja, L. Tee, Dr Nicolette Binz, Assistant Professor Chooi-Mai Lai, winthrop Professor Piroska RakoczyOral: Use of imaging tools to study changes in morphology and vasculature in mouse models of diabetes and retinal neovascularisation

September 2009 Australian & New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine 2009 Annual Scientific General Meeting Fremantle WA

Prof Ian McAllisterSpeaker: Advances in the management of retinal diseases in the elderly

Oceanic Retina Society Annual Meeting Hamilton Island Queensland

Prof Ian McAllisterSpeaker: Charles Babbage: unfortunate genius – the man who should have invented the ophthalmoscope

Oceanic Retina Society Annual Meeting Hamilton Island Queensland

Prof Ian McAllisterSpeaker: Unusual subretinal lesions

Student and Early Career Workshop, WA Branch Australian Society for Immunology, Perth WA

Monique Ainsworth, Iona SchusterOral presentation: CpG protects against MCMV infection

Grand Rounds, Princess Margaret HospitalPerth, Western Australia

winthrop Professor David MackeyInvited Speaker: Congenital Cataract from German Measles to Genes

Neuro-Ophthalmology Society of Australia meetinMelbourne, Victoria

winthrop Professor David MackeyPresentation: Update on LHON.

October 2009 Tri-Society Annual Conference, a Tri-Society Meeting of the International Cytokine Society (ICS), The International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research (ISICR) and Society for Leukocyte Biology (SLB) Lisbon, Portugal

Professor Mariapia Degli-EspostiInvited Symposium Speaker: Cellular and Cytokine Interactions in Health and Disease 2009

Ophthalmic Genetics Study GroupSan Francisco, USA

winthrop Professor David MackeyPresentation: (L)OHN or LHON?

Retina Australia National CongressBrisbane, Queensland

winthrop Professor Piroska RakoczyKeynote speaker: There is light at the end of the tunnel

Center for Genomic RegulationBarcelona, Spain

winthrop Professor Piroska RakoczyInvited speaker: Gene therapy for Eye Disease: can Systems Biology help?

European Association For Vision And Eye Research Slovenia

winthrop Professor David MackeyPresentation: Individualised risk in AMD


Conferences & Invited Lectures

Conferences and Invited Lectures

Leipzig, Germany

Professor Bill Morgan, winthrop Professor Dao-Yi Yu, Chandra Balaratnasingam, Professor Stephen Cringle, P House, SS Pandav, RL CooperInvited Lecture: Pressure gradients across the optic disk

November 2009 RANZCO Annual Scientific Meeting Brisbane, Queensland

Dr Jason Lim, Assistant Professor Paula Yu, Professor Bill Morgan, Professor Stephen Cringle, winthrop Professor Dao-Yi YuOral: Isolated arterially perfused eye preparation as a model to study the permeability of retinal microvessels

RANZCO Annual Scientific Meeting Brisbane, Queensland

Professor Bill Morgan, Naeem Fatahee, P House, M Hazelton, B Betz-Stablein, winthrop Professor Dao-Yi YuOral: Intraocular pressure change is associated with change in vein pulsation pressure


Naeem Fatahee, Professor Bill Morgan, Assistant Professor Paula Yu, winthrop Professor Dao-Yi YuOral: Spectral domain optical coherence tomography versus histology of porcine and human optic nerve

Prof. John Forrester with Prof. David Mackey – Oxford Ophthalmological Congress



MH Kang, Chandra Balaratnasingam, Assistant Professor Paula Yu, Professor Bill Morgan, Professor Ian McAllister, Professor Stephen Cringle, Winthrop Professor Dao-Yi Yu

Oral: The distribution of shear related vascular endothelial morphology varies across the optic nerve head


winthrop Professor David Mackey Chair: ORIA Genetics plenary session

Invited Speaker: Genetics of Retinal Vascular Calibre: the Australian Twin Eye Study

Fudan Medical University, Shanghai, China

winthrop Professor Dao-Yi Yu, Professor Bill Morgan, Associate Professor Er-Ning Su, XH Sun, P House, wY Guo, XB Yu Invited lecture New concepts of glaucoma filtration Surgery.

Fudan Medical UniversityShanghai, China

winthrop Professor Dao-Yi Yu, Dr Paula Yu, Professor Stephen CringleInvited lecture New concept of retinal micro-environment

December 2009 Federation of Immunological Societies of Australasia (FIMSA) Advanced Immunology Training Course, Tangalooma Island Resort, Queensland

Professor Mariapia Degli-EspostiInvited Faculty Speaker

ASI 2009 - The Australasian Society for Immunology 39th Annual Scientific MeetingConrad Jupiter’s, Queensland

Professor Mariapia Degli-EspostiInvited Symposium Speaker

Fundamentals of Genetic EpidemiologySchool of Population Health - Summer School 2009 unit. University of Western AustraliaPerth, Western Australia

winthrop Professor David MackeyInvited speaker: Genetic Research of Eye diseases



Andoniou C, Coudert JD, Degli-Esposti MAKillers and beyond: NK-cell-mediated control of immune responses. Eur J Immunol. 2009;38:2938-42

Bahaadini K, Yogesan KApplying “informatics” technology to retinal practice Retinal Physician. 2009;September on-line edition Health staff priorities for the future development of telehealth in Western Australia. Rural Remote Health. 2009;9(3):1164. Epub 2009 Aug 7

Balaratnasingam C, Morgan WH, Johnstone V, Pandav SS, Cringle SJ, Yu D-YHistomorphometric measurements in human and dog optic nerve and an estimation of optic nerve pressure gradients in human.Exp Eye Res 2009;89:618-628 doi:10.1016/j.exer.2009.06.002

Balaratnasingam C, Pham D, Morgan WH, Bass L, Cringle SJ, Yu D-YMitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase expression in the central nervous system is elevated at sites of pressure gradient elevation but not absolute pressure increase. J Neurosci Res. 2009;87(13):2973-2982

Balaratnasingam C, Ye L, Morgan WH, Bass L, Cringle SJ, Yu D-Y Protective role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase following pressure-induced insult to the optic nerve. Brain Res. 2009;1263:155-164

Balaratnasingam C, Morgan WH, Johnstone V, Cringle SJ, Yu D-Y The heterogeneous distribution of axonal cytoskeleton proteins in the human optic nerve. Invest Ophth Vis Sci. 2009;50:2824-2838

Banovic T, Markey KA, Kuns RD, Olver SD, Raffelt NC, Don AL, Degli-Esposti MA, Engwerda CR, MacDonald KP, Hill GR Graft-versus-host disease prevents the maturation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells. J Immunol. 2009;182:912-20. Erratum in: J Immunol. 2009;182:3327

Barry CJMeeting Report; The 39th Annual Education Program of the Ophthalmic Photographers Society, Atlanta, 7-11 November 2008. J Visual Communication in Medicine 2009;32:1,21-23

Barry CJEditorial: 2008 Annual Educational ProgrammeJ Ophthalmic Photo 2009;31(2):106-109

Bass L, Yu D-Y, Cullen L Comparison of femoral and auricular blood pressure in pigs. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2009;36:457-463

Bennett TJ, Barry CJOphthalmic imaging today: an ophthalmic photographer’s viewpoint – a reviewClin Experiment Ophthalmol 2009;37:2–13.

Publications“Publication of research is the main way used to convey the latest findings to colleagues and the broader community. The aim of this process is to create a base of knowledge that can be used to develop improved therapies for the treatment of disease”.Chris Andoniou, Senior Research Officer, Experimental Immunology


Cherepanoff S, McMenamin PG, Gillies MC, Kettle E, Sarks SH Bruch’s membrane and choroidal macrophages in early and advanced age-related macular degeneration. Brit J Ophthalmol. 2009 Dec 3

Chinnery HR, Carlson EC, Sun Y, Lin M, Burnett SH, Perez VL, McMenamin PG, Pearlman E Bone marrow chimeras and c-fms conditional ablation (Mafia) mice reveal an essential role for resident myeloid cells in LPS/TLR4 -induced corneal inflammation. J.Immunol. 182:2738-44

Cringle SJ, Yu DY Oxygen supply and consumption in the retina: implications for studies of retinopathy of prematurity. (Invited Review)Doc Ophthalmol. 2009 Oct 15. [Epub ahead of print] DOI 10.1007/s10633-009-9197-2

Cucca YY, McLay SV, Okamoto T, Ecker J, McMenamin PG The biceps brachii muscle and its distal insertion: observations of surgical and evolutionary relevance. Surg Radiol Anat. 2009 Oct 22

Douglas RS, Tsirbas A, Gordon M, Lee D, Khadavi N, Garneau HC, Goldberg RA, Cahill K, Dolman PJ, Elner V, Feldon S, Lucarelli M, Uddin J, Kazim M, Smith TJ, Khanna D; International Thyroid Eye Disease Society (including Gajdatsy A)Development of criteria for evaluating clinical response in thyroid eye disease using a modified Delphi technique.Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Sep;127(9):1155-60

Eng S-H, Reinholz F. Chai DTwisted-nematic liquid-crystal-on-silicon adaptive optics aberrometer and wavefront corrector. J Biomed Opt 2009;14(4):044014-1-7 DOI10.1117/1.3183814

Eng S-H, Reinholz F, Chai D

A high-resolution wavefront compensating System using a Liquid-Crystal on Silicon Chip.Microw Opt Techn Let 2009;51:2979 – 2985

Feng X, Xiao J, Longville B, Tan A, Wu X, Cooper M, McAllister IL, Isaacs T, Palmer LJ, Constable IJ Complement factor H Y402H and c-reactive protein polymorphism and photodynamic therapy response in age-related macular degeneration. Ophthalmology 2009;116(10):1908-1912

Finkelman YM, Ng JQ, Barrett GDPatient satisfaction and visual function after pseudophakic monovision. J Cataract Refr Surg. 2009;35(6):998-1002

Fong CS, Barry CJ, McAllister IL Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) as a treatment of the neovascular complications of laser-induced chorioretinal anastomosis for nonischaemic central retinal vein occlusion. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2009;37(5):485-489

Friend J, Frances S, McCulloch J, Ecker J, Breidahl W, McMenamin PG. Teres minor innervation in the context of isolated muscle atrophy. Surg Radiol Anat. 2009 DOI 10.1007/s00276-009-0605-9

Gillies MC, McAllister IL, Zhu M-D, Wong W, Louis D, Arnold JJ, Wong TY Pre-treatment with Intravitreal triamcinolone prior to laser for diabetic macular edema: 6 month results of a randomised, placebo controlled trial. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Dec 17. [Epub ahead of print]

Kain S, Morgan WH, Yu D-Y New observations concerning the nature of the central retinal vein pulsation. Brit J Ophthalmol. DOI 10.1136/bjo.2009.169813

Knickelbein JE, Watkins SC, McMenamin PG, Hendricks RLStratification of antigen-presenting cells within the normal cornea. Ophthalmol Eye Dis. 2009;1:45-54



Lai CM, Estcourt MJ, Wikstrom M, Himbeck RP, Barnett NL, Brankov M, Tee LB, Dunlop SA, Degli-Esposti MA, Rakoczy EPrAAV.sFlt-1 Gene Therapy Achieves Lasting Reversal of Retinal Neovascularization in the Absence of a Strong Immune Response to the Viral Vector. Invest Ophth Vis Sci. 2009;50(9):4279-87. Epub Apr 8

McAllister IL, Vijayasekaran S, Chen SD, Yu D-YEffect of triamcinolone acetonide on vascular endothelial growth factor and occludin levels in branch retinal vein occlusion. Am J Ophthalmol. 2009;147(5):838-846, 846.e1-2. Epub 2009 Feb 10.

Mackey DA, MacKinnon JR, Brown SA, Kearns LS, Ruddle JB, Sanfilippo PG, Sun C, Hammond CJ, Young TL, Martin NG, Hewitt AW. Twins Eye Study in Tasmania (TEST): Rationale and Methodology to Recruit and Examine Twins. Twin Res Hum Genet. 2009;12:441-54

Mackey DA. The ‘I’ in Personalised Genetics. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol 2009;37:434–443

Madge SN, Selva D; ANZSOPS DCR Intubation Study Group (including de Sousa JL and Gajdatsy A).Canalicular intubation in routine dacryocystorhinostomy. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2009;37(5):533-4. (Letter)

Manzur M, Fleming P, Huang DC, Degli-Esposti MA, Andoniou CEVirally mediated inhibition of Bax in leukocytes promotes dissemination of murine cytomegalovirus. Cell Death Differ. 2009;16:312-20

Miller J, X Yu, Yu PK, Cringle SJ, Yu D-YIntraocular tissue ablation using an optical fibre to deliver the 5th harmonic of a Nd:YAG. Proceedings of the SPIE Vol. 7163, 71630X 2009;doi:10.1117/12.808138

Morgan WH, Hazelton M, Balaratnasingam C, Chan H, House PH, Barry CJ, Cringle SJ, Yu D-YThe association between retinal vein ophthalmodynamometric force change and optic disk excavation. Brit J Ophthalmol. 2009;93;594-596

Scalzo AA, Forbes CA, Smith LM, Loh LCTranscriptional analysis of human cytomegalovirus and rat cytomegalovirus homologues of the M73/M73.5 spliced gene family. Arch Virol 2009;154:65-75

Sumaria N, van Dommelen SL, Andoniou CE, Smyth MJ, Scalzo AA, Degli-Esposti MAThe roles of interferon-gamma and perforin in antiviral immunity in mice that differ in genetically determined NK-cell-mediated antiviral activity. Immunol Cell Biol. 2009 Jun 30. [Epub ahead of print]

Tikellis G, Gillies MC, Guymer RH, McAllister IL, Shaw JE, Wong TYRetinal vascular calibre and macular telangiectasia type 2. Ophthalmology. 2009;116(2):319-23

van der Most RG, Currie AJ, Cleaver AL, Salmons J, Nowak AK, Mahendran S, Larma I, Prosser A, Robinson BWS, Smyth MJ, Scalzo AA, Degli-Esposti MA, Lake RACyclophosphamide chemotherapy sensitizes tumor cells to TRAIL-dependent CD8 T cell-mediated immune attack resulting in suppression of tumor growth. PlosOne 2009;4:9:e6982

Wong PM, Townsend R, Gajdatsy A, Robbins P. Rare cystic schwannoma variant. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2009;37(3):324-5. (Letter).

Yu D-Y, Morgan WH, Sun X-H, Su E-N, Yu PK, Cringle SJ, House PH, Guo W-Y, Yu X-BThe critical role of the conjunctiva in glaucoma filtration surgery. Prog Retin Eye Res 2009;28:303-328

Publications


Publications

Yu PK, Balaratnasingam C, Morgan WH, Cringle SJ, McAllister IL, Yu D-YThe structural relationship between the microvasculature, neurons and glia in the human retina. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]

Yu PK, Cringle SJ, McAllister IL, Yu D-YLow power laser treatment of the retina ameliorates neovascularisation in a transgenic mouse model of retinal neovascularisation. Exp Eye Res. 2009;89(5):791-800.

Yu X-B, Miller J, Yu PK, Cringle SJ, Morgan WH, Balaratnasingam C, Yu D-YAblation of intraocular tissues with fiberoptic probe delivered 266 nm and 213 nm laser. Invest Ophth Vis Sci. 2009;50(8):3729-3736

Zinkernagel M, Degli-Esposti M, McMenamin P, Fleming P, Chinnery H, Petitjean C, Constable IJ. In vivo imaging of ocular MCMV infection. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Aug 13. [Epub ahead of print].

BOOK CHAPTERSYogesan K, Reinholz F, Constable IJImage Based Clinical Decision Support in Tele-Diabetic Retinopathy Screening.In Automated Image Detection of Retinal Pathology, Eds. Jelinek H. & Cree MJ. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2009, chap. 11

Yu D-Y, Cringle SJ, Yu PK, Su E-N, Sun X, Guo W, Morgan WH, Balaratnasingam C, Yu XRetinal Cellular Metabolism and its Regulation and Control. In Neurovascular Medicine: Pursuing Cellular Longevity for Healthy Ageing, Ed. Kenneth Maiese, Oxford University Press. 2009. ISBN10: 0195326695


Grants

Financial Statements Lions Eye Institute Limited

The Company is a charitable and public benevolent institution. The principal activities during the year were in medical research and promotion of eye care through education and training of medical and allied professions and fundraising to support research activities.

To enable measurement of our activity and performance we have included the following financial information from the Audited Special Purpose Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2009 and details of Research Grant Funds.

Income Statement FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009 2008

$ $Total income including research grants 15,978,757 13,784,655

Total expenditure including research expenses (13,181,693) (11,857,401)Operating profit before significant items 2,797,064 1,927,254Significant items 1,170,521 (3,003,306)Operating profit/(loss) after significant items 3,967,585 (1,076,052)Accumulated profit at the beginning of the year 16,325,976 17,402,028Accumulated profit at the end of the year 20,293,561 16,325,976

SIGNIFICANT ITEMSComprised of:

Fair value adjustment of investment to market value 1,170,521 (3,003,306) Total 1,170,521 (3,003,306)

GENERAL AvAILABLE CASH AND BEQUEST FUNDSLEI’s cash and bequest funds include some amounts specifically set aside for ongoing research projects. Donation and bequest funds are also preserved for special future projects, enabling the Institute to continually expand into new areas of research and to support the further development of existing projects that are showing promising results. Allowing for specific research funds and bequests, the general cash reserves available are:

2009 2008 $ $

Research grant funds not yet spent 4,356,593 3,890,971Endowment Fund 10,329,343 8,138,877General cash reserves 3,346,997 1,725,845Cash at bank and bequest funds 18,032,933 13,755,693

STATISTICAL SUMMARY2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

$ $ $ $ $Total income 15,978,757 13,784,655 11,586,282 12,750,609 10,788,897

Total expenditure 13,181,693 14,860,707 10,683,486 10,193,592 9,347,969

Net assets 20,293,561 16,325,976 17,402,028 16,499,232 13,942,215

Property, plant and equipment (net) 6,995,570 7,049,392 7,054,370 6,790,136 6,848,116

Average no. of FTE staff 82 67 69 69 93


Balance SheetAS AT 31 DECEMBER 2009 2008

$ $

TOTAL FUNDS 20,293,561 16,325,976

Represented by:Cash and cash equivalents 7,737,109 6,272,214Other assets 1,445,875 1,576,755Financial assets 10,319,366 7,509,021Property, plant and equipment 6,995,570 7,049,392TOTAL ASSETS 26,497,920 22,407,382 Payables 1,126,249 1,628,256Research grant funds not yet spent 4,356,593 3,890,971Provision for employee entitlements 721,517 562,179TOTAL LIABILITIES 6,204,359 6,081,406

NET ASSETS 20,293,561 16,325,976

A

B

C

D

E

F

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

E

F

A

B

C

D

INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER(EXCLUDING SIGNIFICANT ITEMS)

2009 2008

Clinic, Day Surgery & LASIK A 56% 57%

Donations & bequests B 10% 6%

Research grants (excludes UWA funds) C 17% 22%

Interest D 12% 7%

Optics Shop E 2% 3%

Other F 3% 5%

EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER

2009 2008

All staffing salaries, fees & oncosts A 36% 34%

Other research & clinical costs B 48% 50%

Equipment, depreciation & maintenance C 12% 12%

Administration & overheads D 4% 4%

CURRENT YEAR RESULTSThe profit from ordinary activities after income tax amounted to $3,967,585

Research funds received by the LEI are held in trust for application to the research projects for which they are received.


Australian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness TrustThe Treasurer and Chairman for the Australian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness Trust (AFPB Trust), Mr Carlo Manera, has continued to provide sound financial guidance during the last financial year.

FINANCIAL REPORTS The following summary financial reports reflect the financial position of the AFPB Trust for the year ended 31st December 2009.

2009 2008

$ $

INCOMEDonations and subscriptions 1,350 1,150

Imputation Credits 26,493 28,608

Interest & Investment Income 95,917 129,991

Fair value adjustment of investment to market value 356,079 (725,456)

479,839 (565,707)

LESS EXPENDITUREAudit and accounting 2,678 1,980

Administration 50 50

Insurance 2,290 2,307

Bank and federal tax charges 70 105

Lions Eye Institute – Grant 64,053 -

69,141 4,442

(DEFICIT)/EXCESS FOR THE YEAR 410,698 (570,149)

Settled Sum (establishing Trust) &

Accumulated funds at beginning of year 2,141,265 2,711,414

ACCUMULATED FUNDS AT END OF YEAR 2,551,963 2,141,265

Represented by:-CURRENT ASSETS

Cash at bank 954,709 861,525

Other Assets 31,888 13,545

986,597 875,070

NON-CURRENT ASSETSInvestments 1,567,666 1,267,995

TOTAL ASSETS 2,554,263 2,143,065

CURRENT LIABILITIESOther Creditors 2,300 1,800

NETT ASSETS 2,551,963 2,141,265


GRANTAUSTRALIAN COMPETITIVE GRANTS

CHIEF INVESTIGATOR

NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship Degli-Esposti, M

NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship Scalzo,A

NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship Yogesan, K

NHMRC Program Grant Advanced new therapeutics and diagnostics in retinal diseases and glaucoma

Yu, D-Y

NHMRC Project Grant Viral interference with apoptosis: defining the mechanisms and effects on viral pathogenesis

Andoniou, C. Huang, DDegli-Esposti, M

NHMRC Project GrantMechanisms of viral induced immunosuppression: effects on DC-NK networks

NHMRC Project GrantDefining the mechanisms that regulate effectivelong term anti-viral immunity

Degli-Esposti, MSmyth, M

NHMRC Project GrantImproving adaptive anti-viral responses: a key to eliminating persistent viral infection

Degli-Esposti, MVan der Most, R

NHMRC Project GrantThe role of monocytic lineage cells in models of corneal disease

McMenamin, P. Pearlman, EDegli-Esposti, M Forrester, J

NHMRC Project GrantThe impact of interplays between viral immune evasion proteins and host cell surface receptors on viral pathogenesis

Scalzo, A

ARC Centre of ExcellenceCentre of Excellence in Vision Science

Yu, D-Y

Ophthalmic Research Institute of AustraliaInvestigating the structural changes in the cells lining the retinal veins at sites vulnerable to blockage

McAllister, I et al

OTHER COMPETITIVE GRANTS

Raine Priming GrantImmunological requirements for improved viral vaccine design

Estcourt, M

GOVERNMENT GRANTS

Department of Health & AgeingAffordable and Intelligent Telemedicine Technology to increase early detection and prevent avoidable blindness

Yogesan, K

Government of Western Australia Department of HealthRound 12 MHRIF

OTHER GRANTS

Lions Save Sight FoundationResearch Support

University of Western AustraliaCentre for Experimental Immunology to incorporate Ocular Immunology

McMenamin, PDegli-Esposti, M

University of Western AustraliaAlvina King Scholarship

Schuster, I

University of Western AustraliaCentre of Ophthalmology and Visual Science Infrastructure Funding

TOTAL GRANTS 2009 $3,793,604

Grants


2009 Research Income

Australian Competitive Grants

Other Competitive Grants

Government Grants

Other Grants

$2,259,000

$111,000

$555,000

$869,000


Financial Statements

Prof. David A MackeyManaging Director (from 1 March 09)[email protected]

Hilary SalisburyPersonal Executive Assistant to Prof. [email protected] 0779

David EiszeleChairman9381 0777

ResearchProf. P. Elizabeth RakoczyDirector of Research; Director, Molecular [email protected] 0726

Prof. Mariapia Degli-EspostiCo-Director, Centre for Experimental Immunology; Director, Immunology & [email protected] 0808

Prof. Yogesan KanagasingamDirector, Centre for [email protected] 0817

Assoc. Prof. Anthony ScalzoCo-Director, Centre for Experimental Immunology; Director, Viral [email protected] 0754

Prof. Dao-Yi YuDirector, Physiology & Pharmacology; Co-Director, McCusker Glaucoma [email protected] 0716

Australian Foundation for the Prevention of BlindnessChee-Peng [email protected] 0703

Administration & FinanceChee-Peng YaoChief Financial [email protected] 0703

Information Technology & CommunicationsYaasin LuttaHead of Information Technology & [email protected] 0786

Lions Eye BankStephanie [email protected] 0770

Lions OpticsMichelle [email protected] 3860

Lions Save-Sight FoundationLorraine StricklandChair of Board

Gail MasonOffice [email protected] 0767

DevelopmentHelen RoweDirector of [email protected] 0823

Development & Media Group9381 0708

Bequest & Donation Enquiries9381 0708

CliniciansProf. Ian Constable AO Managing Director (until 28 Feb 09) [email protected]

Prof. Ian McAllisterDirector of Clinical [email protected] 0870

Prof. Geoffrey CrawfordDirector of Surgical [email protected] 0871

Prof. Graham [email protected] 0872

Dr Jean-Louis [email protected] 0747

Dr Adam [email protected] 0763

Dr Antonio [email protected] 0819

Dr Tim [email protected] 0862

Prof. William MorganCo-Director, McCusker Glaucoma [email protected] 0873

Assoc. Prof. Mei-Ling [email protected] 0875

Assoc. Prof. Steven WiffenDirector, Lions Eye [email protected] 0874

Elizabeth ZambottiDirector of [email protected] 0813

Corp

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2009


To achieve excellence in scientific research and

clinical practice to prevent blindness.

Our Mission

www.lei .org.au

Every five seconds one person in our world goes blind.

Every minute a child goes blind.

The implications of visual disability are enormous.

The public imperative of blindness cannot be ignored.

Professor Ian Constable AO - Founding Managing Director

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RAZoReye LeI7952 02/10

General Administration & Research Enquiries

Phone 9381 0777Facsimile 9381 0700

International +61 8 9381 0777

Clinical FacilitiesElsie Gadd Eye Clinic

Appointments 9381 0888Day Surgery Facility 9381 0880

Laser Vision Centre 9381 0758Clinical Facilities

Facsimile 9382 1171

Lions Eye Institute Annual Report 2009

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