CERA

About

Professor Lauren Ayton

Principal Research Fellow, Retinal Gene Therapy Unit and VENTURE Study

Professor Lauren Ayton is a Principal Research Fellow at CERA, with research interests in inherited retinal disease and gene therapy.

Professor Lauren Ayton

Principal Research Fellow, Retinal Gene Therapy Unit and VENTURE Study

BOptom, PhD, FAAO, FACO, GAICD

Professor Lauren Ayton is a member of CERA’s Executive team and co-leads the Retinal Gene Therapy Unit and VENTURE inherited retinal diseases (IRD) registry with Dr Tom Edwards.

She is also the Head of the Vision Optimisation Unit at the University of Melbourne.

Her research interests are IRD, low vision, and interventions to assist people with IRD, including gene therapy.

Professor Ayton has previously held senior roles in bionic eye projects in both Australia (at CERA) and in the USA (Harvard/Cornell Universities). She has experience working in industry, as a Director of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, and is currently the interim Associate Dean of Innovation and Enterprise for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

Professor Ayton and Dr Edwards’ team are working to provide people with IRDs opportunities to be involved in research at all stages, from natural history studies, online surveys and questionnaires, or clinical treatment trials.

She is an investigator at Cerulea Clinical Trials and has been involved in 11 industry IRD clinical trials to date.

Current projects

Key publications

Key collaborators

Funding and support

Current projects

  • VENTURE Inherited Retinal Disease Natural History Registry
  • Female carriers of X-linked inherited retinal disease.
  • Sensory substitution devices for people with low vision, to assist with mobility and activities of daily living.
  • Nacuity clinical trial of a neuroprotection therapy for patients with Usher Syndrome.
  • Gyroscope gene therapy clinical trial for age-related macular degeneration associated with geographic atrophy (dry AMD).
  • Belite oral medication clinical trial for adolescents with Stargardt disease.
  • Janssen Chromeos natural history study for achromatopsia.

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