Our Research
Pioneering advances in ocular microbiology, antimicrobial development, and medical device innovation
Research Overview
I am a medical microbiologist who has worked for many years in the area of infections of medical devices. My laboratory focuses on development of novel antimicrobials that have applications as antibiotics and disinfectants. We also develop new antimicrobial coatings that can be used for a variety of purposes, including coating of medical devices to reduce associated infections. We have taken several of these through to pre-clinical testing, and antimicrobial contact lenses through to Phase III clinical trials.
My laboratory also focusses on the microbiome of the eye and protists that infect the eye (e.g. Acanthamoeba sp.). We have established robust protocols to examine the low biomass microbiome of the ocular surface that can easily be translated for the analysis of other low biomass microbiomes.
Within the area of contact lens research, we focus on understanding the aetiology of adverse events and comfort during contact lens wear. Our research includes adhesion and biofilm formation of ocular pathogenic microbes (most notably Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). This research involves the study of microbial pathogenesis, and mammalian tissue responses to microbes and biomaterials. We have established several animal and cell-based models for studying contact lens adverse events and biomaterial infections.
Our research has also encompassed proteomic and lipidomic studies of the tear film and its interaction with contact lenses. We have applied new techniques that allow the quantification individual proteins and lipids that adsorb onto contact lenses, or are biomarkers for changes to the ocular surface. This allows researchers, for the first time, to be able to assess the contribution of particular proteins or lipids to the production of adverse responses during lens wear. We have also investigated the use of tears as the source of biomarkers for diabetes, breast and prostate cancer.
These research studies have led to the publication of 15 patents and over 550 peer reviewed papers.
Research Areas
Our key research domains
Antimicrobial Development
Development of novel antimicrobials that have applications as antibiotics and disinfectants. We design and test novel antimicrobial surfaces for medical devices, from laboratory through pre-clinical to clinical testing.
- Novel antimicrobial peptides and peptide mimics
- Antimicrobial coatings for medical devices
- Antimicrobial contact lenses (through Phase III clinical trials)
- New disinfecting agents and testing protocols
- Antimicrobial biomaterials for implantable devices
Ocular Microbiome
Evaluation of the contribution of the ocular microbiome to ocular surface homeostasis. We have established robust protocols to examine the low biomass microbiome of the ocular surface that can easily be translated for the analysis of other low biomass microbiomes.
- Ocular surface microbiome analysis
- Protists that infect the eye (e.g. Acanthamoeba sp.)
- Microbiome and ocular surface health
- Low biomass microbiome protocols
Research Focus
Understanding how the microbial communities on the ocular surface contribute to eye health and disease, and developing new methods to study these low-abundance communities.
Contact Lens Research
Understanding the aetiology of adverse events and comfort during contact lens wear. Our research includes adhesion and biofilm formation of ocular pathogenic microbes, most notably Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Contact lens adverse events
- Contact lens comfort
- Microbial adhesion and biofilm formation
- Proteomic and lipidomic studies of tear film
- Changes to tears during contact lens wear
- Animal and cell-based models for contact lens research
Biomarkers and Diagnostics
Discovery of biomarkers of human disease from tears. We have applied new techniques that allow the quantification of individual proteins and lipids that adsorb onto contact lenses, or are biomarkers for changes to the ocular surface.
- Tear film biomarkers for diabetes
- Tear film biomarkers for breast cancer
- Tear film biomarkers for prostate cancer
- Proteomic analysis of tears
- Lipidomic studies of tear film
Research Impact
This research allows us, for the first time, to assess the contribution of particular proteins or lipids to the production of adverse responses during lens wear, and to identify biomarkers for systemic diseases from tear analysis.
Microbial Pathogenesis
Assessing microbial and mammalian responses during keratitis. Our research involves the study of microbial pathogenesis and mammalian tissue responses to microbes and biomaterials.
- Pathogenic traits of S. aureus associated with keratitis
- Pathogenic traits of P. aeruginosa associated with keratitis
- Mammalian tissue responses to microbes
- Biomaterial infections
- Animal models for keratitis
Research Projects
Current and ongoing research projects in our laboratory
- Pathogenic Traits of S.aureus Associated with Keratitis
- Novel antimicrobial strategies for implantable and non-implantable devices
- Nanodiagnosis of Eye Infections
- Investigation on the association between the Acanthamoeba genotypes and severity of the corneal infection
- Design, synthesis and testing of novel RNA polymerase inhibitors, as anti-bacterial agents
- Development of Biologically Responsive Biomaterials Against Bacterial Colonisation
- In vivo labelling and bioimaging of the tear film phospholipids using silicon quantum dots
- Development of contact lenses that can deliver effective doses of atropine to the eye to control the development of myopia
- Antimicrobial coatings and biomaterials
- Efficacy of disinfectants and novel antimicrobials against coronaviruses
- Engineering peptides for antimicrobial applications
- Ameliorative effect of Sitagliptin and Celery Seeds extract (Ajwain) in Alloxan induced diabetic rats
Collaborators
Research partners and collaborators
Current
Past
Professor Alan Husband
Professor Allan Cripps
Professor Kenneth Knox
Professor Barbara Rose
Professor Colin Harbour
Dr Katsuhide Yamasaki
Research Goals
- Design of novel antimicrobials for use as antibiotics and disinfectants
- Design and testing of novel antimicrobial surfaces for medical devices, from laboratory through pre-clinical to clinical testing
- Evaluation of the contribution of the ocular microbiome to ocular surface homeostasis
- Discovery of biomarkers of human disease from tears
- Understanding changes to tears during contact lens wear and impact of ocular health and comfort
- Assessing microbial and mammalian responses during keratitis
Interested in Our Research?
We welcome collaborations, student applications, and research partnerships. Get in touch to learn more about our work and opportunities.