Robyn Jamieson

Professor Robyn Jamieson MBBS (Hons I) PhD FRACP (Paeds) Clinical Geneticist (HGSA), Eye Genetics Research Unit Head, Professor of Genomic Medicine, University of Sydney â” leads the Eye Genetics Research Unit at CMRI, and heads the Eye Genetics Clinic at The Childrens Hospital at Westmead. She is also Head of the Western Sydney Genetics Program, The Childrens Hospital at Westmead, and Head, Speciality of Genomic Medicine, University of Sydney.

Professor Jamieson obtained her medical degree from the University of Queensland, trained in paediatrics and clinical genetics in Sydney, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Paediatrics) with certification in Clinical Genetics. She completed a PhD in developmental biology at the Childrens Medical Research Institute and received an NHMRC Neil Hamilton Fairley Fellowship and a RACP Travelling Fellowship to undertake postdoctoral research in genomics and disease gene analysis at the University of Manchester, UK.

Professor Jamieson returned to Sydney to establish a research program dedicated to understanding molecular mechanisms contributing to developmental eye disorders and genetic retinal diseases. Her research has successfully translated to the availability of clinical genomic diagnostics in these conditions. Research studies also focussed on novel disease gene identification and understanding of disease mechanisms, to lead on to novel therapies to prevent vision loss. Her research unit has affiliations with The Childrens Hospital at Westmead and the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, with support from the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia, Cure Blindness Australia, the Rosemary Raymer Scholarship for Eye Genetics Research, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

Professor Jamieson delivered the prestigious Sutherland Lecture recognising mid-career research excellence at the 2018 Human Genetics Society of Australasia meeting. She was an invited speaker at the European Vision and Eye Research (EVER) Conference, Nice, 2019, and the World Ophthalmology Congress, Barcelona, 2018. She was symposium coordinator and speaker at the Asian Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology 2018 and 2019.

Current Research

Professor Jamiesons current research is particularly focused on understanding molecular mechanisms contributing to genetic retinal diseases, and use of this information to develop therapies for vision rescue in these conditions. Human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated to retinal organoids and retinal pigment epithelium, as well as animal models, are used for investigation of genetic variants and testing of novel genetic therapies. A collaborative network is established with ophthalmologists and clinical geneticists from around Australia and internationally. The aim of Professor Jamiesons research is to develop detailed understanding of the role of retinal disease genes causing blindness, and to use genome engineering, cellular and vector technologies for novel treatments for these conditions.