What we do
Research
Retina Australia funds and facilitates the top medical research into inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) through a competitive annual Research Grants Program.
- Research we fund
- Impact reports of past research grants
- Strategy and governance of our Research Grants Program
- Apply for a grant
Information
We provide information about:
- Inherited retinal disease (IRD)
- Different types of inherited retinal diseases
- Other retinal dystrophies – AMD and GA
- Anatomy of the eye
- Inheritance patterns
- Genetic testing
- Participating in clinical trials
- An IRD Research Project and Clinical Trial Register
- Latest updates on emerging treatments
- Frequently asked questions
Support
Retina Australia also offers support via:
- Providing Guides for:
- The newly diagnosed
- Parents of children diagnosed with an inherited retinal disease
- Friends of the newly diagnosed
- Financial assistance supports
- Community Billboard – activities and event calendar
- Reference material in regard to:
- Peer Support Groups
- Phone support and referral guidance
Thanks to our generous donors, we have invested
over $6.5 million
in more than 140 projects
since 1989
Latest Retina Australia news
New Board Appointments
Retina Australia directors are thrilled to announce the recent appointment of Associate Professor Anai Gonzelez-Cordero and Dr Alexis (Ceecee) Britten-Jones to the Board. Anai and Ceecee have been long...
First treatment for geographic atrophy approved in Australia
Apellis' SYFOVRE® (pegcetacoplan) TGA Approved Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration...
2025 Research Grants awarded
Retina Australia is delighted to announce two new Research Grants awarded for 2025. Both grant projects will be focusing on the discovery of potential new...
Latest blog posts
World Research Summary by Dr Catherine Civil
Hot Off The Press Check out below to see what new inherited retinal disease (IRD) therapies are in the pipeline! Base...
Podcast: Mental Health and Rare Eye Diseases
Perspectives Podcast by Retina International Guest speaker: Matt Bolz-Johnson, a mental health lead at EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe Retina International's Perspectives Podcasts...
New Research: Navigating a hidden disability – Lived experiences and challenges of adults with early stage inherited retinal diseases
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are genetic conditions that typically...
Perspectives of stem cell therapies for retinal conditions
Retina Australia has partnered with researchers at the University of New South Wales to...
Research impact reports
Establishing novel AAV gene editing for Usher Syndrome
Dr Anai Gonzalez-Cordero - Children’s Medical Research Institute, Sydney
$55,774 (2023)
Using RNA-silencing to tackle neuroinflammation in retinal degeneration
Dr Adrian Cioanca - John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra
$59,869 (2023)
Improving real-world mobility and assessing long-term safety outcomes with a retinal prosthesis (“Bionic Eye”)
Associate Professor Penelope Allen - Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne
$39,862 (2022)
RNA base editing strategies as potential therapeutic of inherited retinal dystrophies
Associate Professor Guei-Sheung (Rick) Liu - Centre for Eye Research Australia, Melbourne
$40,000 (2022)
Retina Australia supports innovative research that will bring hope of lifechanging therapies for all Australians affected by an inherited retinal disease.
Leighton Boyd AM
Chair of the Board of Directors