Associate Professor Frank Lovicu
|
Associate Professor
F13 - Anderson Stuart Building |
|
On this page
Themes | Research interests | Grants | PhD & Masters project opportunities | Honours project opportunities | Keywords
Research interests
Our research is directed at identifying the molecules and mechanisms that govern the behaviour of lens cells of the eye, in health, ageing & disease. Our studies have identified a number of molecules, namely growth factors, that play key roles in both normal and pathological lens development and growth. Currently we are working to gain a better understanding of how these molecules function and how they are regulated in the eye. This is fundamental to identifying new therapeutics for retarding or preventing cataract, one of the most common & costly diseases of ageing.
Current national competitive grants*
2012
Preventing Blindness: Blocking TGFß-induced EMT and Cataract Development
Lovicu F, McAvoy J
NHMRC Project Grants ($332,175 over 3 years)
2011
Role of primary cilia and PCP proteins in lens development: implication for lens regeneration after cataract surgery
McAvoy J, Lovicu F
National Health and Medical Research Council Project Grant ($329,462 over 3 years)
* Grants administered through the University of Sydney
Honours project opportunities
Growth factor-induced lens cell proliferation and differentiation regulating ocular lens development and growth.
Identifying the mechanisms regulating aberrant lens cell behaviour that lead to cataract and blindness.