Laura Downie

Professor Laura Downie is Professor of Optometry and Vision Sciences and inaugural Dame Kate Campbell Fellow for research excellence in the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. She earned a Bachelor of Optometry in 2003 and a PhD in 2008 from the University of Melbourne, with her doctoral research focusing on vascular, neuronal, and glial cell changes in retinopathy of prematurity. After her PhD, she practiced optometry full-time for five years, developing expertise in ocular disease, before entering academia over 13 years ago. She heads the Downie Laboratory: Anterior Eye, Clinical Trials and Research Translation Unit, co-leads the FrontTear Research Centre, directs a Cochrane Eyes and Vision Centre for Evidence-Based Vision Care, and serves as Co-Lead of the faculty-level Curing Chronic Disease Impact Area. Downie provides clinical training in the specialty cornea clinic at Melbourne Eyecare Clinic and didactic instruction to Doctor of Optometry students.

Her research spans laboratory-based science, clinical trials, and implementation science to improve outcomes in anterior eye disease, age-related macular degeneration, ocular surface disease, tear biomarkers, ocular immunology, and ophthalmic imaging. The first optometrist awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council Translating Research Into Practice Fellowship (2015-2017), she holds an NHMRC Investigator Grant (L1) and has secured over $14 million in funding as Chief Investigator since 2013, including more than $12 million as Lead Investigator. She has authored or co-authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and five book chapters, and delivered over 80 invited presentations at national and international conferences. Key awards include the American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat Award (2024), Korb-Exford Dry Eye Career Development Award from the American Optometric Foundation (2019), Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society International Young Investigator Award (2017), and Irvin M. and Beatrice Borish Award from the American Academy of Optometry (2014). Downie serves on expert panels such as the TFOS International Dry Eye Workshop II, edits seven peer-reviewed journals including Ophthalmology, and was WHO Technical Lead for Dry Eye Disease. She is a TFOS Global Ambassador for Oceania.

Professional Email: ldownie@unimelb.edu.au