Associate Professor Ian Trounce is Principal Investigator and Head of Mitochondria and Neurodegeneration research at CERA.

Following his PhD studies at the University of Melbourne, he undertook postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Doug Wallace at Emory University before returning to Australia to establish his own laboratory.

His research focus is on mitochondria and how defects in oxidative phosphorylation contribute to age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including diseases of the optic nerve. His expertise encompasses biochemical, molecular and cell biology and genetic approaches.

CERA’s glaucoma research focuses on molecular pathogenesis and neuroprotection of the optic nerve in glaucoma. Associate Professor Trounce supervises a research team investigating the cellular processes related to ageing and mitochondrial dysfunction that affect the vulnerability of retinal ganglion cells to injury.

This work is intended to develop new therapeutic approaches for protecting the optic nerve in glaucoma. His research scope extends to other neurodegenerative diseases where mitochondrial dysfunction is strongly implicated, especially Parkinson’s disease.