Stem Cell Research and Predictive Technologies in Ophthalmology
Dr Grace Lidgerwood
Dr. Grace Lidgerwood, a research fellow at the University of Melbourne, shares her journey into ophthalmic research, which she describes as a fortunate accident. She explains her pivotal work at the Stem Cell Disease Modelling Unit, focusing on creating patient- derived stem cell models of retinal diseases. Dr. Lidgerwood emphasises the rapid advances in ophthalmology, particularly the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive technologies for screening, diagnosis, and disease modelling. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Lidgerwood highlights the essential role of funding, particularly from Australian Vision Research (AVR), in driving innovation and supporting long-term projects. She expresses gratitude to donors who enable this vital research, and discusses the potential of bequests as sustainable funding solutions for groundbreaking research that will benefit future generations.