Justine is an ophthalmologist and vision scientist. She is a Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor at Flinders University. Justine is an expert on uveitis, and she leads our team. Justine is also one of Science & Technology Australia’s Superstars of STEM, and she advocates strongly research on eye diseases as Executive Vice-President of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, which is the largest global society for eye and vision research.
Liam is a Medical Research Officer and laboratory manager to the team. He began his career as a research assistant with Professor Justine Smith at Oregon Health and Science University before moving to Adelaide in 2013 to continue in Professor Smith’s newly created Eye and Vision Health Laboratory. In his free time, he is a rubbish surfer, slightly better mountain biker, and regular volunteer at the Adelaide Bike Kitchen. He is also proud owner of Sadie, a cantankerous and piratical old tabby cat.
Yuefang is Medical Research Officer, who is an expert in cell culture. She isolates primary cells from human eyes and prepares these cells for a wide range of experiments. Yuefang received a PhD in molecular biology and biochemistry from University of Adelaide in 2000, and she has been working in medical research ever since then. Apart from her high expertise is cell biology, she is also well versed in molecular biology and protein chemistry.
Janet works part-time in the Eye and Vision Health team, providing research support to staff and students. She helps out in various aspects of the research and particularly enjoys helping the team progress their research to publication. She has been working in research support for over 20 years after studying a Science degree at the University of Adelaide. She is a mum to three teenage children who keep her busy, and she enjoys going to the gym and catching up with friends.
Alix is a Medical Research Officer, who is involved in clinical research activities aimed at better understanding the eye cancer, vitreoretinal lymphoma. She has been integral to the development and launch of the first International Vitreoretinal B-cell Lymphoma Registry. Alix has a research background in molecular cell biology, and she has a keen interest in the translation of basic science research to help improve health care and outcomes for people affected by cancer. Following her post-doctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany, she pivoted into clinical cancer research at Flinders University.
Amanda is a postdoctoral researcher who has contributed to various projects in the laboratory over the last few years. Mainly focused on human retinal pigment epithelial cells, Mandy has used molecular biology techniques to detect different strains of Dengue virus and compare the cellular responses they elicit in infected cells, and to study the manipulation of the expression of ACE2, which the receptor for the virus that causes COVID-19. Mandy has a background in genetics and human disease, and her research interests include immunometabolism, neurodegeneration, and population health.
Aruna obtained her PhD in applied microbiology from Sri Padmavati Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, India, on novel actinomycetes species in the earthworm gut as a potential biocontrol agent against fungal infection. She later worked at the University of Malaysia in the diabetes field, at the Australian National University on virulence characteristics of Shigella flexneri, and at Flinders University on molecular characterisation of bacterial and actinomycetes strains. Aruna is working on a bibliographic project that focuses on eye infections across the past 50 years.
Lisia is an ophthalmologist who specialised in uveitis in Brazil and medical retina in Canada. She came to Australia to pursue a research-based degree under Professor Justine Smith’s supervision. Her PhD project focuses in human retinal endothelial cell culture and inflammatory mediators, aiming to improve treatment to macular oedema, a common complication of intraocular inflammation. Dr Ferreira is enthusiastic about promoting visual health and contributing to research that could be translated to prevent blindness in the clinical setting. Lisia has returned to Brazil to complete the write-up of her PhD.
Andrew is a postgraduate student at Flinders University who is undertaking research on social media in medicine with Professor Justine Smith, working towards a Masters and thesis. Andrew spends his working hours as a full-time resident doctor at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney. He studied postgraduate Medicine in Perth and undergraduate Physiotherapy in Sydney. Andrew loves spending quality time with family and close friends, exploring the world (pre-COVID-19), reading and playing all types of sport.
Ranju is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology of a large University Hospital in the capital of Nepal. She is an expert on a unique and devastating uveitis condition named Seasonal Hyperacute Panuveitis (SHAPU), which has been occurring in Nepal as epidemic outbreaks for last 5 decade. Under the supervision of Professor Justine Smith, she will undertake a long- distance PhD on infectious uveitis where our hypothesis will be that specific biomarkers can be identified to predict outcomes in patients with infectious uveitis, specifically toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis-associated uveitis.
Nicholas is a medical student at Flinders University. His work with Prof Smith involves trying to establish current practice patterns regarding immunomodulator use in the management of autoimmune uveitis. He is an international student from Singapore and had completed two years of military service before commencing his medical studies at Flinders in Feb 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the piano.
Demi Gertig, trained optometrist and associate lecturer within the Flinders University Optometry program, commenced a part-time PhD based in the Eye & Vision Health lab, but has taken a break while busy raising her two children and running her property with her husband.
Alwin Tan Chun Rong, completed his Masters of Science by Research postgraduate studies at the Eye and Vision Health Lab under the supervision of Justine in 2021. His project focused on targeting transcription of adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in retinal endothelial cells to treat uveitis.
Abby Dawson, Honours student supervised by Justine in 2017, worked as a laboratory technician in the Eye & Vision Health lab in 2018, did her third year medical student Advanced Studies research project on Ocular Syphilis Twitter content with the Eye & Vision Health team, in 2021.
Kenga Yogeswaran, did her third year medical student Advanced Studies research project on Ocular Toxoplasmosis with the Eye & Vision Health team, in 2021.
Genevieve Oliver, retinal surgeon, did her PhD on neglected retinal infections with the Eye & Vision Health lab and supervised by Justine in 2017-2020, before returning to New Zealand in 2020.
Elise Rochet, visiting postdoc from France 2017-2019.
Rachel Grainger, Honours student supervised by Justine in 2018.