Cerulea Clinical Trials

29/10/2025

At Cerulea, we’re running clinical trials with the aim of bringing safe and effective treatments to people living with eye disease, thanks to the amazing support of our clinical trial participants. ✨

We’re dedicated to providing them with the best possible trial experience at our state-of-the-art ophthalmic trial suites on Level 7 (Blue Wing) of The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

When participants step out of the lifts into our modern and relaxing lounge area, they're welcomed by Clinical Trial Assistant Rebecca who loves being the first point of contact.

“I believe great customer service is about empathy, connection and making every person feel heard. There is no greater feeling then witnessing participants feeling at home when visiting Cerulea."

If you’re interested in taking part in clinical trials at Cerulea, and would like to know more, please visit our website: https://ow.ly/3bvg50XiUbY

06/10/2025

🌟 We’re delighted to announce that senior pharmaceutical and biotechnology executive Dr Michelle Bradney has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Cerulea Clinical Trials.

Dr Bradney begins her role on 20 October and brings more than two decades of experience in medical affairs and clinical development across global pharmaceutical companies and ASX-listed biotechnology firms.

She joins Cerulea from OccuRx, where she served as Chief Operating Officer, and has extensive ophthalmic clinical trials experience through senior roles at Allergan, where she led clinical monitoring operations.

Dr Bradney also holds governance roles in the life sciences sector, including as a board observer with Medicines Australia and a member of the Women on Boards Naomi Simson syndicate.

Dr Bradney brings a wealth of experience in navigating complex regulatory environments and managing high-stakes clinical trial operations to Cerulea.

We look forward to working with Dr Bradney to expand the number of trials delivered, attract new industry-sponsored ophthalmic studies to Australia and establish Cerulea as a global hub for ophthalmic clinical trials.

We’d also like to extend a special thank you to Dr Adele Hosseini, who has served as Interim CEO since May 2025.

Her outstanding leadership has laid a strong foundation for the future growth and success of Cerulea.

Please join us in congratulating Dr Bradney on her appointment! 🎉

02/10/2025

At Cerulea Clinical Trials, we're privileged to work with incredible people such as Olga Maxwell who are helping us to move closer to better treatments by taking part in clinical research.

About 16 years ago, Olga was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – a disease that affects the central part of the retina at the back of the eye.

There are two late forms of AMD: wet AMD – also known as neovascular AMD – and dry AMD – also known as geographic atrophy.

Olga lives with geographic atrophy.

“It didn’t progress for a very long time, but in the last 12 months it has been progressing quite rapidly,” she says.

“I was just recently advised not to drive anymore. I was expecting it, but it was still a bit of a shock.

“I’m a very independent person, and I haven’t lost my independence, but I don’t have the ability to jump in the car and go do something – I have to plan now.”

Wet AMD can be managed with regular eye injections, but up until very recently people with dry AMD did not have any treatments available to slow their vision loss.

In early 2025, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the first ever treatment to slow progression of the condition.

Olga said it has been inspiring after participating in research to finally see the first ever treatment become reality.

“To have seen everything that is being done over the last 16 years, I know that progress is being made.”

We're grateful for participants like Olga whose dedication is helping to pave the way for better eye care.



Pictured: Olga Maxwell looks directly at the camera, while Clinical Trials Coordinator Emily Caruso looks at an image on a computer screen.

24/09/2025

✨ Meet Nora El Sayed, Orthoptist and Clinical Trials Coordinator at Cerulea Clinical Trials. In this Q&A, Nora shares insights into her role and the unique expertise orthoptists bring to clinical trials. ✨

💠What is your role as a clinical trials coordinator at Cerulea?
“My role involves managing day-to-day trial operations and serving as a key liaison between investigators, participants and sponsors.”

“I'm heavily involved in recruiting, screening and enrolling eligible participants into clinical trials, as well as coordinating participant visits, assessments and follow ups in collaboration with the trials’ investigators.

“My experience spans many sub-specialties including glaucoma, age related macular degeneration as well as thyroid eye disease.”

💠What do you love most about your role?
“What I enjoy most is being part of a supportive and motivated trial team. The workplace culture promotes learning, enhances my knowledge of clinical research and genuinely values the comfort of its staff.

“I find it very rewarding to work closely with trial participants and support them through their research journey.

"Taking part in a clinical trial can often be overwhelming and can come with a plethora of questions, so I place great importance on building trust and a reassuring environment where the participants feel heard and seen.”

💠What inspired you to become an orthoptist?
“I was drawn to orthoptics because of my interest in vision science and the opportunity to work directly with patients to improve their quality of life.

"Eye health plays a vital role in people’s independence and daily activities, and I wanted to be part of a profession that could make a real, tangible difference.”

💠What do orthoptists bring to clinical trials?
“Orthoptists bring their specialist vision assessment skills, patient focused care and high-quality data collection to clinical trials, making them integral in ophthalmic and vision-related clinical research.

“Beyond clinical skills, orthoptists bring strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, good communication and organisational skills which enhance clinical trial efficiency, troubleshooting and overall data integrity.”

10/09/2025

At Cerulea Clinical Trials, we use advanced imaging technology like the OCT-A (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography) device to help develop new treatments for eye diseases. 👁️

OCT-A is a specialised camera that captures detailed 3D images of the blood vessels in your eyes, without the need for injections or dyes. This means a more comfortable experience for people taking part in our clinical trials, as well as quicker and more accurate results. It also allows us to detect eye problems at earlier stages.

If you participate in a trial using OCT-A, you can expect a quick and painless procedure. You'll simply rest your chin on a support and look at a target while the machine takes images of your eye. The entire process usually takes just a few minutes and doesn't require any special preparation.

Our goal is to bring new treatments sooner to people living with eye disease. By using state-of-the-art technology like OCT-A in our clinical trials, we're working towards improving eye health for everyone.

27/08/2025

08/08/2025

On World Ophthalmologist Day, we're celebrating the eye surgeons researching ways to save sight. At Cerulea Clinical Trials and around the country, ophthalmologists are trialling an implant, designed to protect the sight of the many Australians living with moderate to severe glaucoma.

Professor Michael Coote, CERA’s Principal Investigator of Glaucoma Surgical Research, developed the implant to aim to reduce eye pressure more effectively than existing glaucoma treatments. The device works by creating an additional channel for fluid drainage, dispersing it through over 150 exit channels. After pioneering the project in 2010, Professor Coote co-founded VividWhite in 2017 to advance this sight-preserving technology.

CERA's Managing Director, Professor Keith Martin, brings his surgical expertise to the trials. As one of the participating surgeons, he's directly involved in implanting and evaluating the device's performance, providing crucial insights into its effectiveness and safety.

Dr Jennifer Fan Gaskin is coordinating the trial at Cerulea, overseeing patient recruitment and ensuring adherence to protocol - playing a vital role in gathering and analysing data on the implant's efficacy.

This collaborative effort extends beyond CERA and Cerulea, involving multiple clinical trial sites nationwide. With support from MTPConnect and private investors the implant may one day revolutionise glaucoma care for 300,000 affected Australians.



Pictured: Prof Martin, Prof Coote (holding the implant) and Dr Fan Gaskin.

08/08/2025

We're delighted to present our 2024 Annual Review, which celebrates the collective effort behind CERA's sight-saving research. This year's edition recognises the vital contributions of scientists, supporters, industry, research partners, funders and people with vision loss. Together, we're developing innovative ways to detect and treat eye diseases, prevent blindness and restore sight.

This year, we're proud to offer the Annual Review in multiple formats – an interactive web edition, downloadable PDF, and an audio version – ensuring accessibility for all.

The 2024 Annual review showcases numerous highlights, including the official launch of Cerulea Clinical Trials, advancements in glaucoma, inherited retinal disease and macular research, and the introduction of our Consumer Advisory Group.

We invite you to explore our achievements and the partnerships driving our research forward. From our state-of-the-art discovery research laboratories to our new clinical trials centre, we're forging dynamic collaborations to accelerate progress in vision research.

Your support makes our work possible – whether through participation in studies, generous donations or spreading awareness of our cause.

Read, download or listen to the Annual Review: https://ow.ly/7Wn650WB6cA

16/07/2025

This Diabetes Week, we want to recognise Brendan Yagmoor for his participation in clinical trials for diabetic macular oedema. After being warned about his blood sugar in 2010, Brendan worked hard to change his lifestyle for a decade. Unfortunately, in 2021, he was diagnosed with diabetic macular oedema, a condition that causes blurry or wavy central vision, making everyday tasks like reading and driving challenging.

After receiving initial treatment, Brendan was given the opportunity to join a clinical trial at Cerulea Clinical Trials. He describes the experience as very rewarding, saying, “I want my eyesight to be as good as I possibly can. All this research is happening before significant damage is being done to my eye.”

People like Brendan help us advance diabetes care, and we’re grateful for all the time and effort they give. Thank you, Brendan, for your commitment to helping us improve the lives of people living with diabetes.