Ocular Immunology Group

Who we are

Clinician and laboratory scientists investigating the pathogenesis of inflammatory eye.

What we do

Our group is interested in diseases that develop in the anterior segment for the human eye including those that arise on the surface of the eye as a consequence of environmental insults, from infection or autoimmunity. Our goals are to determine the triggering factors and the mechanisms by which they develop. It is hoped that this information will provide vital clues for devising novel therapeutic strategies. Our research is conducted using patient-derived and cadaveric donor specimens including tissue, blood, DNA and cells. Animal and cell culture models compliment our tissue-based investigations using basic molecular, biochemical and genetic approaches.

Funding/Media highlight

The group has been continuously funded by peer reviewed category 1 project grants from the NHMRC and Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia (ORIA) for over two decades and has recently received three rounds of philanthropic funding from the George Kranitis foundation (~250,000) for research into uveitis. A/Prof Di Girolamo’s new technique for transplanting stem cells into patients with corneal blindness was featured on the ABC’s New Inventors program in 2010 and will be featured on the ABC’s Catalyst program in 2011.

Major Researchers

Prof Denis Wakefield Senior Investigator d.wakefield@unsw.edu.au
A/Prof Nick Di Girolamo Senior Investigator n.digirolamo@unsw.edu.au
Prof Peter McCluskey Senior Investigator pmccluskey@eye.usyd.edu.au
Prof Minas Coroneo Senior Investigator m.coroneo@unsw.edu.au
Dr Stephanie Watson Senior Investigator s.watson@unsw.edu.au

Further Information

Other Staff Members
Kelly Mai (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Sharron Chow (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Jeanie Chui (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Paula Ordonez (Honours Student)
Shahriar Amjadi (PhD student)


Selected Publications:

Kilian KA, Lai LMH, Magenau A, Cartland S, Bocking T, Di Girolamo N, Gal M, Gaus K, Gooding JJ. Smart tissue culture: in situ monitoring of cellular secretion with nanostructured photonic crystals. Nano Lett. 2009;9:2021-2025. (ERA-1369: A; IF: 9.991)

Davies S, Chui J, Madigan MC, Provis JM, Wakefield D, Di Girolamo N. Stem cell activity in the developing human cornea. Stem Cells. 2009;27:2781-2792. (ERA-3381: A*; IF: 7.747) SOMS PAPER-OF-THE-MONTH (NOV 2009)

Gray P, Chang J, Di Girolamo N, McCluskey PJ, Wakefield D. The role of PAMPs and DAMPs in the pathogenesis of acute and recurrent anterior uveitis. Br J Ophthalmol. 2010;94:271-274 (ERA-15838: B; IF 2.917)

Di Girolamo N. Signaling pathways activated by ultraviolet radiation. Curr Pharm Des. 2010;16:1358-1375. (ERA-14737: A; IF: 4.414) INVITED REVIEW

Watson SL, Marcel H, Sarris M, Di Girolamo N, Coroneo MT, Wakefield D. The effect of mesenchymal stem cell conditioned media on corneal stromal fibroblast wound healing activities. Br J Ophthalmol. 2010;94:1067-1073. (ERA-15838: B; IF 2.917)

Chui, JJY, Li WMM, Di Girolamo N, Chang JH, McCluskey PJ, Wakefield D. Iris pigment epithelial cells express a functional LPS receptor complex. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010;51:2558-2567. (ERA-16286: A*; IF: 3.431)

Davies S, Di Girolamo N. Corneal stem cells and their origins: significance in developmental biology. Stem Cells Dev. 2010;19:1651-1662. (ERA-16873: C; IF: 4.146) INVITED REVIEW

Van Nguyen H, Di Girolamo N, Jackson N, Hampartzoumian T, Bullpitt P, Tedla N, Wakefield D. Ultraviolet radiation-induced cytokines promote mast cell migration and matrix metalloproteinase production: potential role in cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Scand J Rheumatol. Accepted 27-09-2010 (ERA-16835: B; IF: 2.507)

Chui J, Coroneo MT, Crouch R, Wakefield D, Di Girolamo N. Ophthalmic pterygia: a stem cell disorder with pre-neoplastic features. Am J Pathol. 2011;178;817-827. (ERA-15651: A*; IF: 5.673)

Echevarria TJ, Di Girolamo N. Tissue-Regenerating, Vision-Restoring Corneal Epithelial Stem Cells. Stem Cell Rev Reports. Accepted 26-10-2010 (IF: 5.083)

Wakefield, D. and M. Zierhut (2010). "Controversy: Ocular Sarcoidosis." Ocular Immunology and Inflammation 18(1): 5-9.

Wakefield, D., C. P. Herbort, et al. (2010). "Controversies in Ocular Inflammation and Immunology Laser Flare Photometry." Ocular Immunology and Inflammation 18(5): 334-340.

Foster, L. J. R., K. Thomson, et al. (2010). "Chitosan-Vancomysin Composite Biomaterial as a Laser Activated Surgical Adhesive with Regional Antimicrobial Activity." Biomacromolecules 11(12): 3563-3570.

Wakefield, D. and M. Zierhut (2009). "Intraocular Lymphoma: More Questions Than Answers." Ocular Immunology and Inflammation 17(1): 6-10.