Research
Professor Simunovic’s research spans laboratory discovery, translational development, and first-in-human clinical trials in retinal surgery, gene therapy, and novel vision-restoring technologies.
Clinical Trials - Recruiting
PRIMAlia - Principal Investigator for a study exploring the safety and efficacy of a next-generation "bionic retina" in patients with inherited and age-related macular degeneration.
Foldable Capsular Bag Prosthesis - Principal Investigator, Longbridge Medical first-in-human study.
Retinal Bioglue for Retinal Detachment Repair - Investigator-initiated first-in-human trial (currently in pre-clinical safety testing)
Fight Inherited Retinal Blindness! FIRB! is the first real-world registry actively tracking outcomes in patients receiving gene therapy for inherited retinal degeneration (e.g. Luxturna™/voretigene neparvovec for RPE65-associated IRD)
Clinical Trials – Completed
Furgghorn efficacy of switching therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to Vabysmo™
Insite DME fixed interval versus treat and extend dosing of Vabysmo™ for diabetic macular oedema
Renexus (Encapsulated Cell Technology in MacTel2) - Surgical lead in the world's largest surgical series in Phase III clinical trials (now Encelto™)
Susvimo™ in Neovascular AMD (Velodrome) - Surgical lead for Australia's largest series of implantations.
ONL1204 in Retinal Detachment - Principal investigator for the Phase I study of this novel neuroprotective agent
Subretinal Delivery Optimisation - Prof Simunovic’s laboratory developed the first means of quantitatively tracking subretinal therapeutics in humans, in vivo, and used it to establish the preferred approach for therapeutic delivery (American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2025)
Selected Publications
Full list on Google Scholar
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Simunovic MP, Prime ZJ, Chow RC, Shao EH, Madanat Z, Osaadon P, Yeo TH, Oo KT, Too LK. The 1-step versus 2-step subretinal injection trial (1,2-SIT) - a randomised controlled trial to compare drug reflux following subretinal injection. Am J Ophthalmol. 2025. American Ophthalmological Society Thesis.
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Simunovic MP, Moore AT, Grigg J, et al. The fight inherited retinal blindness! Project: a new treatment outcome and natural history registry for inherited retinal disease. Retina. 2025;45(2):286-295. - Simunovic MP, Osaadon P, Too LK. Sodium Fluorescein as an Optical Label to Evaluate Subretinal Injection. Retina. 2023;43(1):158-61.
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Simunovic MP, Hess K, Avery M, Mammo Z. Threshold versus intensity functions in two-colour automated perimetry. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics. 2021; 41:157-64.
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Ong AP, Angbue Te N, Zagora SL, Symes RJ, Yates W, Chang AA, McCluskey PJ, Simunovic MP. Post-surgical versus post-intravitreal injection endophthalmitis: changing patterns in causative flora. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 2019;47(1):57-62
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Simunovic MP, Jolly JK, Xue K, MacLaren RE. Structural and functional recovery following limited iatrogenic macular detachment for retinal gene therapy. JAMA Ophthalmology. 2017; 135:234-241.
Laboratory Research
Professor Simunovic’s laboratory investigates:
- Surgical techniques for subretinal delivery of therapeutics
- Novel biomaterials for retinal repair
- Optogenetics for vision restoration
- Development and validation of vision testing tools
Prospective Fellows / PhD students
PhD students
Professor Simunovic welcomes enquiries from prospective higher degree research students via the University of Sydney - https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/study-options/postgraduate-research.html.
Vitreoretinal Surgical Fellowship
Professor Simunovic is the Director of the Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship at Sydney Eye Hospital. This one-year program offers advanced surgical training in retinal detachment repair, macular surgery and complex cataract surgery, with high case volumes and exposure to cutting-edge research.
Application details are available via the Sydney Eye Hospital Foundation website:
https://www.sydneyeyehospitalfoundation.org.au/fellowship-application
Clinical Research Fellowship
Clinical research fellowships can be arranged through the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney. Fellows participate in investigator-led and industry-sponsored studies in retinal disease, gaining experience in trial design, regulatory processes, surgical techniques, and data analysis.
Enquiries should be directed to the Save Sight Institute:
https://www.sydney.edu.au/save-sight-institute.
LOCATIONS
APPOINTMENTS
You may book an appointment with Professor Simunovic by calling one of our locations. If you are preparing for a visit, please read this important information prior to your appointment
