The Corneal Infection and Immunology Group, led by Scientia Associate Professor Nicole Carnt, is a collaborative research initiative based at the Westmead Institute for Medical Research and UNSW Sydney. The group investigates the immune response and host susceptibility to corneal infections, with the ultimate goal of developing innovative treatments and preventative strategies to reduce sight-threatening conditions.
Key Research Areas
- Host Immune Response to Eye Infections:
- Understanding the immunobiology of corneal inflammation, including cytokine profiles and immune reactions to pathogens like Acanthamoeba and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).
- Exploring how immune dysfunction contributes to corneal infections in contact lens wearers and the broader population.
- Corneal Infection Prevention:
- Developing guidelines for infection prevention in allied health practices.
- Investigating the role of water exposure and behavioral factors in the risk of Acanthamoeba keratitis and other corneal infections.
- Biomarkers and Diagnostics:
- Identifying tear biomarkers for corneal infections to enhance early detection and monitoring of treatment efficacy.
- Genotyping host immune profiles to assess genetic susceptibility to corneal infections.
- Innovative Therapeutics:
- Designing novel protein therapeutics for HSV keratitis.
- Computational modeling of tear film dynamics to understand and mitigate infection risks.
Key Grants and Funding
The group has been supported by prestigious funding bodies such as the Rebecca Cooper Foundation, UNSW Scientia Fellowship, Fight for Sight UK, and the American Optometric Foundation. Recent projects include:
- The Immunobiology of Corneal Infections: UNSW Category 1 Bequest Grant ($10,000).
- Tracking Acanthamoeba in Australian Water Supplies: UNSW Science Industry Seed Funding Grant ($15,000).
- Contact Lens-Related Infections: US$36,178 from Alcon Investigator-Led Studies.
Recent Achievements
- Preventing Sight Loss: Secured $100,000 from the Rebecca Cooper Foundation to investigate strategies for preventing vision loss due to HSV-related eye infections.
- Novel Protein Therapeutics: Collaboration with Westmead Engineering to develop innovative treatments for corneal infections.
- Tracking Acanthamoeba Sources: Partnered with WaterNSW to explore environmental sources of Acanthamoeba infections.
Group Members
- Sana Arshad: PhD Student
- Heba Alenezi: PhD Student