RetVIC

Retinal vascular change as biomarkers of cardiovascular disease

Epidemiological and clinical studies examining the relationship of retinal vascular signs to subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension in Australia (Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, the Blue Mountains Eye Study, the AusDiab Study) and United States (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, the Cardiovascular Health Study, the Beaver Dam Eye Study and the WESDR). Clinical studies examining the predictive ability of retinal vascular signs as markers of stroke in an acute clinical setting (Multi-Centre Retinal Stroke Study, Retinal Vessel Endothelial Function Study). Developmental research in retinal vessel imaging in collaboration with the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, University of Melbourne, and School of Computing, National University of Singapore.

Clinical trials in diabetic retinopathy

These include THUNDERBIRD, RESOLVE, Posurdex, and Macugen.

Epidemiology of eye diseases

The objectives of this research program are to describe the prevalence, incidence, risk factors and impact of major age-related eye diseases, including myopia, angle-closure glaucoma, cataract, diabetic retinopathy and age-related maculopathy. This program has a particular focus on diseases that are prevalent in Asia- Pacific.

Retinal Vascular Imaging Centre (RetVIC)

RetVIC will provide capability in diagnostic analysis of retinal images for early prediction of vascular diseases. We have demonstrated though previous studies that retinal vascular changes predict the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, dementia, kidney and other vascular conditions, years before their development and independent of current diagnostic methods.