Vision Research: Dr Brenda Castro Welcomed to the Layton Vision Foundation

Dr Castro is a postdoctoral scientist who completed her doctorate in vision research in laboratories in the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) in Brazil and the University of California, Irvine.  Her expertise includes the ocular applications of nanoparticles, implants, drug development and peptides, and she has experience in developing and testing viral and nonviral nanoparticles for gene therapy.

Previously, Dr Castro has worked on many different projects in eye research, including developing chimeric viral/nonviral nanoparticles for gene therapy in age-related macular degeneration and
polymeric nanoparticles for a DNA vaccine.  Her most recent work included two projects, firstly purifying melittin, a peptide extract from bee venom, and assessing its safety and efficacy in models of blindness and secondly the development and characterization of a product prototype  using nanotechnology. These projects resulted in two patent submissions

Dr Castro made the move to Brisbane during the pandemic and the Foundation is delighted to welcome her to the team.