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About
Dr Flora Hui
Research Fellow, Glaucoma
Dr Flora Hui is a clinician scientist who researches new treatments and ways to diagnose and monitor neurodegenerative diseases like glaucoma.
Dr Flora Hui
Research Fellow, Glaucoma
BOptom, MPhil, PhD
Dr Flora Hui is interested in finding new treatments, improving glaucoma diagnosis, access to eyecare and uncovering what the eye can tell us about Alzheimer’s disease.
She completed a Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in lab-based sciences at The University of Melbourne, focused on glaucoma models and retinal imaging as a biomarker for the brain. Building on this, Flora was involved in a landmark clinical study of hyperspectral imaging to accurately find people who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
At CERA, she focused on developing clinical tools to shorten the time to detect glaucoma progression. This led to a world-first clinical trial investigating nicotinamide (vitamin B3) for neuroprotection in glaucoma. She currently leads an Australian trial in a global collaboration to determine if nicotinamide should form part of standard glaucoma care.
Flora is a passionate science communicator and promoter of STEM education and careers. In recognition of this, she was selected for ABC Top 5 (Science) and Superstars of STEM. Flora also mentors high school students to encourage STEM careers to the next generation.
Key research questions
- Can Vitamin B3 supplementation protect or improve visual function in glaucoma patients?
- Can we design, engineer and test in clinical trials new devices that help detect early signs of glaucoma progression more effectively than existing technology?
- Do blood vessels in the eye hold clues to progression in Alzheimer’s disease?
- Can nicotinamide riboside assist with vision recovery after retinal detachment?
Current projects
Key collaborators
Funding and support
Current projects
The effect of Vitamin B3 supplementation on visual function in glaucoma
In a recent randomised clinical trial led by Professor Jonathan Crowston and Dr Flora Hui, 12 weeks of high-dose Vitamin B3 supplementation led to significant improvement in retinal function in patients with glaucoma. We are currently leading a group of co-ordinated international clinical trials in Australia, Singapore, Sweden and the UK that will determine if vitamin B3 supplementation can reduce visual loss in glaucoma over 2 years. Together, these trials will recruit over 1,000 patients internationally, representing one of the largest ever studies of a potential neuroprotective therapy for glaucoma.
Probing neurovascular coupling as an early marker of glaucoma progression
A key challenge faced in glaucoma is identifying the people who are most at risk of rapid progression in earlier stages of the disease. While high eye pressure is our most-studied risk factor, there is evidence of impaired blood flow in eyes with glaucoma. In this study, we combine imaging and flickering light to look for early signs of blood flow dysregulation in the eye. In the future, this may help us identify people most at risk of glaucoma progression and prevent vision loss.
Key collaborators
CERA:
University of Melbourne:
CSIRO:
Karolinska Institute, Stockholm:
University of Sydney:
Moorfields/University College, London
Funding and support
Thank you to the following organisations for their support:
Contact Dr Flora Hui
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