New funding is supporting researchers from CERA and the University of Melbourne to find answers for the 40 per cent of people who are diagnosed with inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), but do not have a genetic diagnosis. 

Their work has the potential to find targets for breakthrough treatments and help people access future clinical trials. 

The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC) – a partnership between international biotechnology company Illumina and the University of Melbourne – is supporting a team led by Professor Lauren Ayton AM and Dr Ceecee Britten-Jones to access cutting-edge DNA sequencing technology to look for answers. 

“It’s quite amazing to see how quickly this field has changed from where we were 10 or 15 years ago,” says Professor Ayton. 

“The fact that we can now look at somebody’s whole genetic information and have that explain what they’re experiencing is just mindboggling. 

“Now we are at the precipice of a whole wave of new treatments, including gene therapy and oral medications, and with TAGC support we’ve sequenced over 80 people.” 

Funding for the 2024 TAGC Innovation Projects was possible with the support of Invest Victoria, Illumina and the University of Melbourne. 

This story was originally published in Share our vision: Annual Review 2024.