Dr Nilisha Fernando
Research interests
Dysregulation of the innate immune system is strongly linked to the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This disease which affects the retina can lead to severe vision impairment and blindness, costing the global economy over 350 billion USD annually. Controlling inflammatory activation in AMD is therefore a major therapeutic strategy in slowing the progression of the disease. During my PhD candidature, I investigated the role of retinal microglia and macrophages in propagating inflammation in retinal degeneration, and explored a number of therapies to target these macrophages in disease progression. Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher, my research focus is the role of the retinal inflammasome, produced by microglia and macrophages, in retinal degeneration. I am investigating the use of microRNAs (regulators of gene transcription) in inhibiting retinal inflammasome activation.
Publications
- Fernando, N, Wooff, Y, Aggio-Bruce, R et al 2018, 'Photoreceptor survival is regulated by GSTO1-1 in the degenerating retina', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 59, no. 11, pp. 4362-4374pp.
- Jiao, H, Rutar, M, Fernando, N et al 2018, 'Subretinal macrophages produce classical complement activator C1q leading to the progression of focal retinal degeneration', Molecular Neurodegeneration, vol. 13, no. 45, pp. 18pp.
- Chu-Tan, J, Rutar, M, Saxena, K et al. 2018, 'MicroRNA-124 Dysregulation is Associated With Retinal Inflammation and Photoreceptor Death in the Degenerating Retina', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 59, no. 10, pp. 4094-4105.
- Natoli R, Mason E, Jiao H, Chuah A, Patel HR, Fernando N, Valter K, Wells CA, Provis J, Rutar M 2018, 'Dynamic Interplay of Innate and Adaptive Immunity During Sterile Retinal Inflammation: Insights From the Transcriptome', Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 9, no. 1666, pp. 1-17pp.
- Natoli, R & Fernando, N 2018, 'MicroRNA as Therapeutics for Age-Related Macular Degeneration', in JD Ash, RE Anderson, M LaVail, C Bowes Rickman, JG Hollyfield, C Grimm (ed.), Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Springer Singapore, Singapore, pp. 37-43.
- Natoli, R, Fernando, N, Dahlenburg, T et al 2018, 'Obesity-induced metabolic disturbance drives oxidative stress and complement activation in the retinal environment', Molecular Vision, vol. 24, pp. 201-217.
- Fernando, N, Natoli, R, Racic, T et al 2018, 'The use of the vaccinia virus complement control protein (VCP) in the rat retina', PLOS ONE (Public Library of Science), vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 1-15pp.
- Lu, Y, Fernando, N, Natoli, R et al. 2018, '670nm light treatment following retinal injury modulates Muller cell gliosis: Evidence from in vivo and in vitro stress models', Experimental Eye Research, vol. 169, pp. 1-12pp.
- Natoli, R, Fernando, N, Jiao, H et al 2017, 'Retinal Macrophages Synthesize C3 and Activate Complement in AMD and in Models of Focal Retinal Degeneration', Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, vol. 58, no. 7, pp. 2977-2990pp.
- Natoli, R, Fernando, N, Madigan, M et al 2017, 'Microglia-derived IL-1ß promotes chemokine expression by Müller cells and RPE in focal retinal degeneration', Molecular Neurodegeneration, vol. 12, no. 31, pp. 1-11pp.
- Lu, Y, Natoli, R, Madigan, M et al 2017, 'Photobiomodulation with 670 nm light ameliorates Müller cell-mediated activation of microglia and macrophages in retinal degeneration', Experimental Eye Research, vol. 165, pp. 78-89.
- Fernando, N, Natoli, R, Valter, K et al 2016, 'The broad-spectrum chemokine inhibitor NR58-3.14.3 modulates macrophage-mediated inflammation in the diseased retina', Journal of Neuroinflammation, vol. 13, pp. -.
- Natoli, R, Jiao, H, Barnett, N et al 2016, 'A model of progressive photo-oxidative degeneration and inflammation in the pigmented C57BL/6J mouse retina', Experimental Eye Research, vol. 147, pp. 114-127.
- Kotwal, G, Fernando, N, Zhou, J et al 2014, 'Exploring the potential benefits of vaccinia virus complement control protein in controlling complement activation in pathogenesis of the central nervous system diseases', Molecular Immunology, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 204-209.
- Fiorani, L, Maccarone, R, Fernando, N et al 2014, 'Slow-release Drug Delivery through Elvax 40W to the Rat Retina: Implications for the Treatment of Chronic Conditions', Journal of Visualized Experiments, no. 91, pp. 6pp.
