Matt Rutar

Matt Rutar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Science, Molecular & Biochemical Therapeutics at the University of Canberra, within the Faculty of Science and Technology. His research focuses on understanding molecular and cellular drivers of vision-threatening retinal diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD). He holds an Honorary Senior Fellow position at the University of Melbourne's Anatomy and Neuroscience department.

Education: PhD in Biomedical Science from Australian National University (2008-2011). Postdoctoral research at John Curtin School of Medical Research (JCSMR) and the University of Melbourne, where he established an independent laboratory funded by NHMRC grants.

Research interests include immunological mechanisms in retinopathies, environmental/lifestyle influences on eye disease, and developing therapeutic targets for AMD. He leads projects funded by organizations like the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia and NHMRC, including studies on neutrophils in choroidal neovascularization and Wnt signaling in multiple sclerosis.

Advising: Open to supervising PhD/Masters/Honours students in his research themes. His work bridges basic science and clinical applications, aiming to translate immune regulation discoveries into novel therapies for retinal disorders. Current laboratory facilities at University of Canberra support advanced molecular and cellular investigations into retinal pathologies.