Eye donations used in research helps medical researchers uncover new information about the eye and better understand medical conditions impacting the eye and other parts of the human body. It also helps find new ways to prevent and treat conditions and develop new therapies.

For eye donation at the end of life, the CERA Biobank works collaboratively with the Lions Eye Donation Service (LEDS), who works across Victoria and Tasmania, within coronial services and other facilities, to approach, gain consent, recover and prepare eye tissue for transplantation, training and/or research. Donors identified for research purposes will be approached at that time by a LEDS Donor Coordinator and/or the hospital staff.

Due to the complexity of this donation pathway, these eye donations are mostly done through the donor’s senior next-of-kin, via a special LEDS consent form which is designed to support consent consideration for transplant, training and research. A withdraw form is also available, should the donor or their family wish to withdraw their consent later.

Download the consent form

The research projects approved to receive eye donation samples from LEDS open and close continually. Additionally, one donor may have samples allocated to multiple research projects. Therefore, this section provides a guide on how and where donor samples are allocated within the CERA Biobank program, rather than providing specific project details.

Discovery and Understanding

Samples can help researchers to understand the anatomy and physiology of the eye and associated parts of the body. For example, the CERA Biobank currently provides samples to researchers seeking to understand the connection between the eye and Parkinson’s disease, so people living with the disease can benefit from early detection. Other researchers are using the samples to better understand how genes work within the eye and how gene therapy could help people with eye disease.

Corneal Research

The cornea is the clear window at the front of the eye.

Corneal samples are helping researchers to develop new therapies, treat dry eye and manage various forms of corneal disease. Samples are also being used in developing new technologies to help surgeons perform corneal surgery and help to develop a bioengineered cornea which aims to use one cornea to help multiple people, therefore reducing transplant wait lists.

Retinal Research

The retina is the light-sensing tissue at the back of the eye.

Researchers are accessing samples to help them understand a range of conditions such as inherited retinal disease and macular degeneration. They are exploring the stages of deterioration and looking to find new ways to prevent and treat the conditions.

Diagnostic and medical technology

Samples can help develop new techniques designed to help surgeons perform surgical operations. They are also helping to develop new technologies that aim to prevent the advancement of eye and non-eye conditions. For example, researchers are accessing samples to help them understand and develop new diagnostic machines which will help with the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, by looking into the eye.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition caused by the increase of pressure in the eye. Samples can help researchers understand the condition and develop ways to prevent and treat it.

The CERA Biobank provides high-quality human samples from consented donors to ethics-approved Australian researchers (CERA and non-CERA). This includes whole eye, cornea, corneo-scleral rim, sclera, retina, vitreous and blood.

For researchers interested in accessing donations, please email our team for a preliminary conversation. Please contact us before submitting ethics and/or governance applications, so we can provide practical advice on sample level access.

If researchers wish to proceed after the preliminary conversation, they will be provided with additional information and instruction on the approval and access process. They will be directed to the CERA Biobank application form and be asked to provide a copy of their ethics approval when submitting it. Once approved, non-CERA researchers will be granted permission on the completion of a material transfer agreement, while CERA researchers are permitted under CERA policy and CERA Governance completion.

For interested Recovery Partner Facilities

Hospitals, day surgeries and clinics interested in offering their patients the chance to donate samples toward research can email the CERA Biobank.

Approvals and practice

CERA Biobank complies with the VIC Human Tissue Act 1982; NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007; NHMRC Biobanks Information Paper 2010; and the OECD Guidelines on Human Biobanks and Genetic Research 2009 and CERA Policy.

The end of life (deceased) donation program has governance approval with CERA, human research ethics committee approval with Lifeblood (2020#18) and The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (13/1151H) and has policies and procedures in place through LEDS and CERA.

Membership

CERA Biobank is a member of the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories and is included on the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health’s Biobank list. LEDS is also a member of the Eye Bank Association of Australia and New Zealand.

The Team

Primary Investigator:

• Dr Heather Machin

Donor Coordinators:

• Terry Couper
• Jenna Vartiainen