New Zealand Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship
Dr Ilva Rupenthal received the NZ Science and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship
from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology recently, with a total budget
of $271,500. The fellowship is for 3 years and covers her salary as well as consumables
and conference travel. Ilva aims to develop an ophthalmic pharmaceutics nucleus
within the Department of Ophthalmology and the NZ-NEC that addresses challenges
associated with the delivery drugs to the ocular tissues. She will work alongside
clinician-researchers and develop tailored delivery systems for site-specific application
of the investigated drug molecules. This will help to translate cutting-edge research
into clinical application. Initial projects include the development of an eye drop
for antioxidant delivery to the lens, which will be done in collaboration with Professor
Paul Donaldson and Dr Julie Lim, as well as a controlled delivery system for connexin
43 antisense oligonucleotides and mimetic peptides for the treatment of AMD and
optic neuropathy with Professors Helen Danesh-Meyer and Colin Green.
Ilva will start her fellowship in October.
30 June 2010
