About
Professor Pete Williams
Research Lead, Neuroprotection and Repair Unit
Professor Pete Williams investigates what causes cells in the eye to die in glaucoma and is discovering was to help them survive.
Professor Pete Williams
Research Lead, Neuroprotection and Repair Unit
BSc.(Hons), PhD
Professor Pete Williams is a Lead Researcher at CERA and heads the Neuroprotection and Repair Unit.
Through his formal education and postdoctoral training, he focused on the complex nature of sensory systems and how they could be fixed. He aims to develop neuroprotective strategies for neurodegenerative diseases by studying the neurobiology of complex diseases and developing clinically translatable therapeutic strategies.
His lab uses the eye as a model of the central nervous system to elucidate early mechanisms of neurodegeneration. He and his team utilise modern molecular tools to delicately dissect pathways pertaining to early aging and neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and to identify potential therapeutic targets which are then tested and verified in animal and cell models of neurodegeneration. He collaborates with basic scientists and research clinicians to develop discoveries into targeted therapeutics in the clinic. This includes active participation and leadership in Phase II and III clinical trials as well as commercial ventures based his lab’s discoveries.
Key research questions
- How can we use existing materials or compounds for ‘simple’ solutions and for glaucoma patients to help themselves?
- How can we develop a drug therapy for glaucoma that is prescribable, titratable, and highly specific?
- How can we develop a one-shot gene therapy that is neuroprotective and regenerative for patients at all stages of glaucoma?
Selected publications
Key collaborators
Selected publications
Tribble JR, Wong VHY, Stuart KV, Chidlow G, Nicol A, Rombaut A, Rabiolo A, Hoang A, Lee PY, Rutigliani C, Enz TJ, Canovai A, Lardner E, Stålhammar G, Nguyen CTO, Garway-Heath DF, Casson RJ, Khawaja AP, Bui BV, Williams PA. (2025). Dysfunctional one-carbon metabolism identifies vitamins B6, B9, B12, and choline as neuroprotective in glaucoma. Cell Reports Medicine. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102127
Tribble JR*, Jöe M*, Varricchio C, Otmani A, Canovai A, Habchi B, Daskalakis E, Chaleckis R, Loreto A, Gilley J, Wheelock CE, Jóhannesson G, Wong RCB, Coleman MP, Brancale A, Williams PA. (2024) “NMNAT2 is a druggable target to drive neuronal NAD production”. Nature Communications. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50354-5
Otmani A, Jóhannesson G, Brautaset R, Tribble JR†, Williams PA. (2024) Prophylactic nicotinamide treatment protects from rotenone-induced neurodegeneration by increasing mitochondrial content and volume. Acta Neuropathologica Communications. doi: 10.1186/s40478-024-01724-z
Tribble JR, Hagström A, Jusseaume K, Lardner E, Wong RCB, Stålhammar G, Williams PA. (2024) NAD salvage pathway machinery expression in normal and glaucomatous retina and optic nerve. Acta Neuropathologica Communications. doi: 1186/s40478-023-01513-0
Nieuwenhuis B, Laperrousaz E, Tribble JR, Verhaagen J, Fawcett JW, Martin KR, Williams PA, Osborne A. (2023) Improving adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated transgene expression in retinal ganglion cells: comparison of five promoters. Gene Therapy. doi: 10.1038/s41434-022-00380-z
Tribble JR, Otmani A, Sun S, Ellis S, Cimaglia G, Vohra R, Jӧe M, Lardner E, Venkataraman AP, Domínguez-Vicent A, Kokkali E, Rho S, G Jóhannesson, Burgess RW, Fuerst PG, Brautaset R, Kolko M, Morgan JE, Crowston JG, Votruba M, Williams PA. (2021) Nicotinamide provides neuroprotection in glaucoma by protecting against mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction. Redox Biology. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101988
Williams PA, Harder JM, Foxworth NE, Cochran KE, Philip VM, Porciatti V, Smithies O, John SWM. (2017) Vitamin B3 modulates mitochondrial vulnerability and prevents glaucoma in aged mice. Science. doi: 10.1126/science.aal0092
Hui F, Tang J, Williams PA, McGuinness MB, Hadoux X, Casson RJ, Coote M, Trounce IA, Martin KR, van Wijngaarden P, Crowston JG. (2020) Improvement in inner retinal function in glaucoma in response to nicotinamide (vitamin B3) supplementation: A crossover randomized clinical trial. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. doi: 10.1111/ceo.13818
See more publications
Key collaborators
- Dr Daisy Shu, UNSW
- Professor David Finkelstein, The Florey
- Professor Robert Casson, University of Adelaide
- Dr Natalia Porporato, Singapore National Eye Centre
- Associate Professor Seungsoo Rho, Cha University – Bundang Medical Center
- Associate Professor Gauti Jóhannesson, Umeå Universitet
- Associate Professor Georgios Sotiriou – Stockholm University
- Professor Miriam Kolko, Copenhagen University
- Andrea Brancale Lab, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague
- Dr Tim Enz, Augenklinik Lenzburg
- Assistant Professor Rosario Amato, Professor Massimo Dal Monte, University of Pisa
- Dr Victoria McGilligan, Professor Colin Willoughby, Ulster University, Altnagelvin Hospital
- Professor Michael Coleman, Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair
- Dr Richard Eva, King’s College London
- Professor James Morgan, Professor Marcela Voturba, Cardiff University, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences
- Assistant Professor Clara Llorens-Quintana, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Professor Bruce Berkowitz, Wayne State University, Department of Ophthalmology, Visual and Anatomical Sciences
- Professor Michigan State University
- Professor Rob Williams, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Centre
- Associate Professor Bryan Jones, University of Utah, Moran Eye Center
Contact Professor Pete Williams
Email: pwilliams@cera.org.au
Website: www.petewilliamslab.com
Karolinska Institute profile: ki.se/personer/pete-williams
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