Student opportunities
Development of a first aid eye drop for corneal scarring
This research position is open to expressions of interest from Masters and PhDs students.
Project title: Development of a first-aid eye drop for corneal scarring
Supervisor: Dr Gink Yang and Professor Mark Daniell
Email: gyang@cera.org.au
Suitable for: Masters and PhDs
Please note: Applicants to this program need to have majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in their undergraduate degree and have previously practised and/or worked in a wet laboratory. Minimal WAM = 75.
The cornea is the transparent layer located at the front of the eye. It is part of the light refraction system that maintains the clarity of our sight. Infections and trauma to the cornea are common during first aider missions and routine military posting. Unfortunately, these infections and injuries result in prolonged inflammation which can cause permanent scarring and blindness.
Dr Gink Yang and team have identified a macrophage secretome that reduces fibrosis in corneal cells. We aim to further characterize and develop this secretome technology using molecular biology techniques including cell culture, ultracentrifugation, ELISA, western blot, qPCR and FACS.
The success of our technology will be formulated as a first-aid eye drop for emergency responders and servicemen alike at the frontline.