Melbourne eye researcher wins national award for excellence
[ Research Review 0906 : Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences ]
By Rebecca Scott and Janine Sim-Jones
Predicting the risk of heart disease through a simple eye test has won University of Melbourne researcher Professor Tien Wong the Federal Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research for 2006.
Professor Wong, 38, was presented with the $50 000 award at an Australian Society for Medical Research event during Medical Research Week earlier this year.
In addition to this award, late last year Professor Wong was also awarded the University of Melbourne Woodward Medal for Science and Technology.
Based in the University’s Centre for Eye Research Australia, Professor Wong leads a team which has developed a novel method of predicting cardiovascular disease by scanning the eyes for blood vessel damage.
The scans can be used independently of other tests to diagnose people who may be at risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension — 50 per cent of which cannot be picked up by standard diagnostic procedures.
Professor Wong said: “What is unique to our research is that the retinal vessels provide a means to understand subtle changes in human blood vessels. Although there is a known link between blood vessel damage and cardiovascular disease, we have not been able to precisely examine the damage in any great detail or to link it to other diseases.”
He said his research was in a rapidly changing field and its success came from collaborative partnerships with other researchers and a huge shift in knowledge and technology.
“Extensive improvements in digital imaging technology and computer software have played a huge role in the success of this collaborative research,” Professor Wong said.
“With the support of a Science and Technology Innovation Grant from the Victorian Government, we have been able to establish the Retinal Vascular Imaging Centre (RetVIC). This has brought together 14 core groups from around Australia to develop the research further.
“It has allowed us to explore translational research that aims to develop a clinical application and possible commercial feasibility.
“I am sure it is the collaborative focus in our research that has contributed to me being a recipient of this prestigious award, which I am very proud to receive,” he said.
The Retinal Vascular Imaging Centre (RetVIC) is a collaboration between the departments of Ophthalmology and Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Melbourne, the Centre for Eye Research Australia, the Baker Medical Research Institute, Diabetes Australia, the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Centre for Vision Research at the University of Sydney, the International Diabetes Institute, Pfizer Australia, the National Stroke Research Institute and Monash University.
Additional support has been provided by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, the National Stroke Foundation, the Save Sight Institute at the University of Sydney, the Ian Potter Foundation and BSC Electronics.
Development of this retinal imaging system follows Professor Wong’s research, which is the first in the world to categorically demonstrate that subtle damage to blood vessels in the retina can predict cardiovascular disease.
“The idea that the eye is a window to the human body, and can predict other areas of human health, has been around for more than a century,’’ he said.
“But our team has demonstrated this prediction in precise and quantitative terms, which is important if there is to be clinical application.’’
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