Research Commercialisation
In the lab with Professors Erica Fletcher, Alice Pébay and Dr Grace Lidgerwood
If you want to make a difference in people's lives, we can introduce you to commercial and industry partners that will help achieve your goals.
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Meet Professor Erica Fletcher
Laboratory Head and Neuroscientist, Department of Anatomy and Physiology
Image: Fletcher Laboratory - Visual Neuroscience
What area of research are you interested in?
I am a clinically trained optometrist with research interests in understanding the mechanisms of eye diseases. I lead a large research group in the Department of Anatomy and Physiology, investigating the mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
What was the driving factor to becoming a biomedical scientist?
I had a natural interest in solving problems and finding something new every day. But, the most important thing that happened to me was being awarded a summer research scholarship that commemorated 100 years of women in the science faculty. That summer opened my eyes to the fun and satisfaction that research provides.
Explain the background to your research and your main findings so far?
Our research seeks to find the cause of early changes in the retina during diabetes. We are looking at the role of immune cells. What we have found is that immune cells in the retina contact both neurons and blood vessels. They provide a means for neurons to communicate their needs to blood vessels. What’s also interesting is that in diseases like diabetes, this means of communication is absent and, in fact, blood vessels fail to deliver the appropriate amount of blood and nutrients. We think this is critical for starting the disease process off in diabetes.
Can you share your views on translation?
Translation of all our scientific endeavours is very important. Ultimately, our goal is to not only understand how we see, but also we want to use the discoveries we make to improve people’s lives. This means we work with biotech companies to test new therapies for eye disease.
How does your work get to clinic?
First, the discoveries we make help clinicians to better understand the mechanisms of disease so that they can intervene or manage their patients in different ways. Secondly, the discoveries we make allow us to work with bio tech companies to test and develop new therapies or biomarkers.
How do these collaborations come about?
Our publications and reputation play a big part in establishing our collaborations. Once we have found something we try and partner with companies to further the development of a therapy. We are also known for our work on animal models of eye disease, which means we also get companies coming to us to test their therapies. A drug can’t get to clinical trial, unless we know that it works to reduce the disease, and that it is safe. We help answer both those questions.
What is your dream collaboration?
I would like to work with a company that makes drug targets in a unique way – this could be via novel antibodies or nano-materials. That way we can better develop a novel therapy to some of the targets that we have identified.
Explain the advances in technology that are changing the way this area of research is conducted?
The most important technology that has allowed us to make the discoveries about immune cell function is the amazing high resolution microscopes that we now have available to us. The School has one of the largest collections of high resolution microscopes in Australia. We are able to see how individual parts of cells change and also how they interact with blood vessels in the retina. These cells are smaller than the thickness of a human hair.
What is your advice to anyone interested in Biomedical Sciences?
My advice is to find a lab or supervisor to work with that you get along well with. I think the personal connections are critical for success. Remember, that you don’t have to be super smart – but rather just willing to work hard and never give up.
Meet Professor Alice Pébay
NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Department of Anatomy and Physiology
What area of research are you interested in?
I work for two University of Melbourne departments – Anatomy and Physiology in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Surgery in the Melbourne Medical School.
Image: Professor Pébay’s Stem Cell Disease Modelling Laboratory team
Explain the background to your research and your main findings so far?
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the western world. It contributes to 50 per cent of all legal blindness with an estimated 12 per cent of Australians over the age of 50 affected (~1 million). Yet, the exact pathogenic mechanisms at play are not well elucidated despite intense international research efforts. This is in large part due to the fact that we lack good experimental models of AMD, making the task of identifying treatments significantly more difficult.
Having access to a pathologically relevant model of human retinal degeneration is crucial for understanding, screening and developing accurate treatment strategies that prevent or slow progression of these blinding diseases.
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are a powerful tool to investigate retinal disease, as cells from selected individuals or specific genetic background can be differentiated into specific cell types to make “a biopsy in a dish” and obtain disease models for therapy development. Our team takes this approach in the hope of contributing to the discovery of treatments for AMD using a disease model based around patients own stem cells.
What is your advice to anyone interested in Biomedical Sciences?
Work hard, believe in yourself and your goal, arm yourself with knowledge, high ethical standards, professionalism, surround yourself with good people, and you can achieve anything. Be happy and kind to yourself and others. We can only do our best when we are well, on an individual level and in a team. Don’t compare yourself to others because we all have very different paths. Learn to recognise and leave toxic environments.
How important is research collaboration?
We try to collaborate with people with other expertise than ours, as to show completeness of the work. Some projects we lead, some projects we help with. Trust is very important as it gives everyone the confidence that the work will be well done regardless of importance of role on an individual piece of work. Our relationships are established on trust and commitment to the work. It can take years to establish strong and trusting bonds, but the outcomes are powerful. We accomplish so much more together.
What’s your favourite pursuit outside work?
I enjoy swimming, playing the piano and reading. With COVID-19, I could not swim in pools anymore so we started open water swimming as regular exercise because the beach was in our 5km radius. I went from hating cold water with a passion to being totally addicted to this activity and the feelings we have during and post swim. During the swim, because of the cold, I can only concentrate on my breathing, so it takes my head out of the constant thinking. I also get the surprise of crossing paths with fish, jellyfish, rays and crabs. After a swim, everything seems ok and in reach. Enjoying a snack post swim, watching the openness and getting warmed, is a really wonderful and happy routine. I find this time off, for me, helps me in my everyday life and work by allowing a calmer approach to problem solving.