Non-invasive alternative to intravitreal injections – Community Advisory Group
The project
Many people in Western Australia and around the world lose their vision due to diseases affecting the back of the eye, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Right now, the main treatment requires injecting medicine directly into the eye (intravitreal injections). These injections can be painful, expensive, and difficult for patients to keep up with.
This project, a collaboration between Curtin University and the Lions Eye Institute, is working on a non-invasive alternative—eye drops that can deliver the medicine without the need for injections. The research team has already had a major breakthrough, successfully testing the eye drops in an animal model. The next step is to confirm that this formulation is safe, effective and meets the necessary standards for regulatory approval and commercialization. If successful, this innovation could make treatment easier and more comfortable for patients, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and lower costs.
The involvement opportunity
The research team are looking for 5 patients and carers with lived experience of managing back-of-the-eye disease, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, to form a Community Advisory Group. Reflecting on lived experience including the physical, emotional and financial burden of intravitreal injections, the group will:
- Provide feedback on dosing, ease of use, storage and accessibility to refine the formulation of the eye drops
- Provide feedback on patient adherence strategies
- Provide guidance on real-world usability of the eye drops
- Provide input into lay summaries
Skills and experience
You need to have lived experience of back-of-the-eye disease, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, either as a patient or carer. You or the person you care for may have received intravitreal injections (injection directly into the eye).
Other information
The Community Advisory Group will meet twice – firstly in December 2025, and then in May 2026. Meetings will likely go for about an hour each, and will be held online or in-person at the Curtin Bentley campus.
An honorarium payment of $37.50/hour will be provided.
Applications close 31 October 2025.