Outstanding Alumnus Award, ocular tissue engineering research (January 2012)
Since graduating at 18 with a science degree from USC, Laura has been involved in medical research into the evaluation of silk based materials for ocular tissue reconstruction. Completing her PhD this year at QUT at 24 years old, Laura is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the Queensland Eye Institute. Under the supervision of the man who invented the artificial cornea, Professor Traian V. Chirila, this research has the potential to change the lives of millions of people. Approximately 10 million cases of blindness worldwide are due to diseases affecting the cornea. (Full details via link above.)
“At the moment we rely on donors for corneal transplants,” Laura said.
“The future supply of adequate corneal tissue for transplantation is uncertain, and this problem is further compounded by a current global shortage of corneal tissue for transplantation in countries without access to tissue banking facilities.”
Laura’s work studies the use of limbal stem cells in conjunction with a fibrous material known as fibroin, a protein which can be readily isolated from silkworm cocoons. It represents a step forward in developing limbal tissue transplants for treating severe eye injuries and common diseases. It is hoped these silkworm cocoons could one day replace the need for eye donors for cornea transplants.
Laura has co-authored 6 peer-reviewed publications, and has given 16 oral and poster presentations at conferences in Australia and overseas, including Spain, Austria and the U.S.
She has received or been a finalist for many awards, including the Prevent Blindness Foundation Travel Award and finalist of the 2011 Australian Society of Medical Research award in Queensland.
Laura is currently writing a chapter for an international book titled 'Methods of Regeneration of the Cornea'.
Please note: this is archival information and may not reflect the recipients' current work details.