$10.8 Million Gift to Establish Dedicated AMD Research Chair at UNSW
A philanthropic commitment is set to strengthen Australia's ophthalmology research capabilities, with UNSW Sydney announcing the establishment of a new Chair dedicated entirely to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The $10.8 million gift from the Sarks Macular Degeneration Research Foundation will fund the Shirley and John Sarks Chair in Age-related Macular Degeneration, one of the most significant private contributions to vision science research in the country's history.
The Chair will be filled through a global recruitment process, with UNSW's Faculty of Medicine & Health seeking a world-leading researcher or physician-researcher to drive progress in ophthalmology and vision science.
AMD remains the leading cause of irreversible vision loss across developed nations. In Australia, approximately one in seven people over the age of 50 show signs of the condition, with more than 1.5 million Australians currently affected. That figure is expected to climb significantly as the population ages, placing increasing pressure on the eye health sector to deliver better diagnostic tools and treatments.
The gift honours the life's work of Dr John Sarks AM, 94, and his late wife Dr Shirley Sarks AM, two of Australia's most respected figures in retinal research. Over several decades, the pair amassed hundreds of human eye tissue specimens alongside detailed clinical histories to map the progression of macular degeneration. The collection is considered one of the most comprehensive resources of its kind in the world and continues to offer value to researchers today.
Dr John Sarks said the donation represented the culmination of a lifetime devoted to improving patient outcomes. "Macular degeneration remains a major challenge, and there is still much to learn," he said. "My hope is that this Chair will support researchers to keep asking difficult questions and to continue pushing towards better treatments and outcomes for patients."
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the contribution would have a lasting impact well beyond the university. "The Shirley and John Sarks Chair in Age-related Macular Degeneration will support UNSW researchers at the forefront of global efforts to better understand, prevent and treat macular degeneration," Prof. Brungs said.
UNSW Dean of Medicine & Health Professor Cheryl Jones echoed that sentiment, highlighting the strategic importance of the role for the broader field. "The Chair will enable UNSW to attract a world-leading expert in a highly specialised and competitive field, strengthening our progress in tackling this debilitating disease," she said.
For eyecare professionals working with AMD patients, the establishment of this Chair signals renewed momentum in Australian-based research and the potential for clinical advances to emerge closer to home in the years ahead.
