veski's new innovation fellow to research Glaucoma in Australia

Scientist, Professor Sarah Hosking has been named as a veski innovation fellow - bringing her groundbreaking research to Australia from the UK.

Gavin Jennings MLC, Minister for Innovation along with veski have today awarded the fellowship to Professor Sarah Hosking at a veski boardroom luncheon.

Professor Hosking has established her laboratory at the Centre for Eye Research at Melbourne University to investigate the eye disease Glaucoma which is the leading cause of irreversible blindness.

In Australia there are around 200,000 confirmed glaucoma sufferers, with a further 50% undiagnosed. The direct costs of care are AU$850m per year, with a further $1bn to support quality of life.

Professor Hosking says she is excited to be working as a veski innovation fellow on this important research project in Australia.

“This is one of the first research groups to investigate the impact of Glaucoma on the brain and the effect of treatment.

“Ultimately, the main objective of this research is to reduce the financial burden on the community,” she said.

veski chairman, Professor Snow Barlow says veski is delighted to be able to assist in bringing Professor Hosking to Victoria to carry out her research work into such an important area of public health.

The former Head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Managing Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia at the University of Melbourne Professor Hugh Taylor says Professor Hosking is an outstanding researcher of international reputation and we are excited at the opportunity to have her join our group.

“The importance of her research and her proposed application cannot be underestimated in respect to the cost savings to the State and Federal health economies and benefits to patients over the years to come as the disease processes in glaucoma are better understood.”

The veski innovation fellowship Program returns to Victoria successful Australian expatriates and leading researchers with outstanding skills in the fields of science, innovative technology and design. It is seed funded from the interest on a $10 million endowment, announced by Treasurer and Minister for Innovation, John Brumby in 2004.

Before coming to Australia Professor Hosking held joint appointments asProfessor of Optometry, at Aston University in Birmingham and City University in London. She is married with two children.