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Eminent ophthalmologist Professor David Mackey has been attracted to Western Australia to take up senior appointments at The University of Western Australia and the Lions Eye Institute.

Professor Mackey will commence his appointments as Managing Director of the Lions Eye Institute and Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science at UWA in March 2009.  He is currently a Pfizer Australia Senior Research Fellow, Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne's Department of Ophthalmology, and Clinical Professor at the University of Tasmania.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Robson said the appointment of Professor Mackey would build on the international reputation of UWA in the field of ophthalmology.

Professor Mackey will take over the reins from Professor Ian Constable, who established the Lions Eye Institute in 1983 and transformed it into the largest eye research institute in the southern hemisphere.

LEI board chairman David Eiszele said Professor Mackey was only the second person to hold the positions of Institute Managing Director and Professor of Ophthalmology during the Institute's 25-year history.

"Professor Mackey is recognised internationally for his research work on the genetics of eye disease and he is a specialist ophthalmologist of genetic eye diseases," Mr Eiszele said.  "He is an outstanding medical scientist with extensive publications."

Educated in Tasmania, Professor Mackey has worked at the Murdoch Institute, Melbourne, The Johns Hopkins Center for Hereditary Eye Diseases, USA, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.  He currently runs the genetic eye clinics at the Royal Children's Hospital and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne and provides clinical services for children and families with hereditary eye diseases.  He has fostered a network of international collaborations and has been a teacher and mentor to ophthalmologists from around the globe.

Professor Mackey has been productive in research into the genetics of glaucoma, optic atrophy and congenital cataract. Other major research work includes the 10-year Glaucoma Inheritance Study and the Twins Eye Study, both based in Tasmania.

He will deliver the 2008 Ian Constable lecture at UWA's Octagon theatre on Monday 15 September 2007 at 7.15pm.

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716