Associate Professor Michele Catherine Madigan

RESEARCH

My research program aims to explore and understand the pathogenesis of human eye diseases within the context of normal human development and ageing. 

Three main areas currently define this research program:

1. Understanding the microenvironment of primary ocular tumours, especially melanoma, and developing novel approaches for eye melanoma therapy. This includes studying normal human melanocytes (see image) (current PhD project).

2. Exploring normal ageing human retina and choroid, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common cause of blindness in those aged over 50 yrs. This involves usinghuman donor eyes.

3. Studying eyelid meibomian gland biology, especially related to changes in dry eye disease and the effects of environmental challenges.

4. Introducing students to laboratory basics in vision science (Summer Eye Biology)

We am currently funded for research areas with grants from ARC, and the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia (ORIA), with well-established national and international collaborations in these areas.

TEACHING

* Convene and teach undergraduate Ocular Anatomy & Physiology (VISN2111), plus teaching in Disease Processes of the Eye 1 and 2 (OPTM3105 and OPTM3205), Development and Ageing of the Visual System (VISN3111) and Therapeutics and the Posterior Eye (OPTM6423)

* Introduction to eye anatomy, and eye development and ageing for the Graduate Diploma in Orientation and Mobility (SOVS)

* supervision of Year 5 students MClinOptom student projects (currently 5 projects in ocular pathology in collaboration with A/Prof. Max Conway (USyd) and Svetlana Cherepanoff (UNSW and SydPath). 

OTHER AFFILIATIONS

*  Clinical Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Save Sight Institute, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

*  Research Affiliate, Clear Vision Group, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University

Research Groups

• Ocular Surface Research (Inc. Dry Eye and Contact Lenses)

Research Topics

• Human choroid, sclera and retina (normal and ageing)

• Role of the immune system in posterior segment inflammation and age-related retina degenerations

• Ocular tumours, ocular melanoma

• Ocular surface and dry eye disease