Chris Layton

About Me

Professor Layton is a national leader in innovative ophthalmology, with expertise in macular disease, lens surgery and minimally invasive glaucoma interventions. He completed ophthalmology training in Queensland, Oxford and London, subspecialty training in retinal disease at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and holds a PhD in diabetic retinopathy from Oxford University. Professor Layton is a Rhodes Scholar and founding director of the LVF Ophthalmology Research Centre in Brisbane, Australia. He is also CEO of Ocugene, a Queensland based biotech start-up which is commercialising his gene therapy technology targeting macular degeneration, uveitis and choroidal melanoma. Professor Layton is the listed inventor of multiple ophthalmic patents currently under review in the USA, the EU, Japan, Israel, Australia and Singapore. He has published extensively in the international literature and his work has been recognised by awards from international eye research organisations.

General

Background

The LVF Ophthalmology Research Centre is a prominent ophthalmologist led research unit in Queensland. The unit’s research focus is on optimising next generation targeted therapeutics for the intravitreal treatment of currently blinding or fatal medical retinal conditions. Our world class infrastructure includes modern, extensively equipped PC2 laboratories and access to on site flow cytometry; confocal, multiphoton and 3D scanning super resolution microscopy; microPET imaging and mass spectrometry. The unit has developed a complete bench to bedside development pipeline through our clinical research infrastructure, from high technology discovery work of targeted therapeutics in cell culture systems to unit sponsored clinical trials. Academic training is a specialty of the unit and forms the ideal foundation for a career as a visual scientist, neuroscientist or academic ophthalmologist. Alternatively, experiences in the unit can be tailored to impart a high level of ophthalmic knowledge prior to undertaking the RANZCO ophthalmology training program or equivalency examinations. Supervision is supportive and directed towards the career goals of the Centre's members, not the advancement of the Centre itself.