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Swathi Priya Mudaliar Nagamani

Swathi Priya Mudaliar Nagamani

PhD Candidate
Postgraduate Research Student
Medicine & Health
School of Optometry and Vision Science

Research title: Investigating DMFu and anti-VEGF combination therapies with a nanoparticles-based sustained drug delivery system in neovascular age related macular degeneration

Primary Supervisor: Dr Daisy Shu

Secondary Supervisors: Professor Mark Willcox, Dr. Tushar Kumeria

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Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive retinal disorder affecting 30–50 million people worldwide primarily older adults and is the leading cause of blindness in developed nations. In its neovascular form (nAMD), chronic hypoxia, inflammation, and upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drive angiogenesis and the formation of choroidal neovascular (CNV) membranes within the subretinal layers. Untreated CNV membranes often haemorrhage and culminate in subretinal fibrosis, a wound-healing response fueled by oxidative stress and inflammation. Current nAMD therapy depends on monthly intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. Our study aims to engineer nanoparticle encapsulation of dimethyl fumarate (DMFu) and to investigate whether intravitreal injection of DMFu nanoparticles can inhibit angiogenesis and fibrosis in mouse models of choroidal CNV membranes induced by both one-stage and two-stage laser protocols.ÌýSuccess could potentially reduce the frequency of the intravitreal injections from once a month to twice a year.

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Biography

Swathipriya is a PhD candidate at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ. Her research focuses in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, with a specific interest in exploring the therapeutic potential of Anti-VEGF and DMFu combination therapies using nanoparticle-based sustained drug delivery systems. She built a strong foundation in retinal research as a research optometrist at the Sankara Nethralaya Medical Research Foundation in India. She earned both her bachelor's and master’s degrees in optometry from the Vasan Institute and The Sankara Nethralaya Academy, both affiliated with Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University. She also holds a fellowship in Clinical Optometry fromÌýThe Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA). Swathipriya has been involved in various projects related to anterior and posterior segment diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, dry eye disease, and corneal disorders.

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Education

Bachelor of optometry (B.Optom), Vasan Institute of Ophthalmology and Research; Master of optometry (M.Optom), The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA)

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Awards

University International Postgraduate Award (UIPA) scholarship at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç (2025-2028)

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Memberships and Affiliations

2025– Present, Member of Optometric Association of Tamil Nanbargal (OATN)

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Conference Attendance

  • 26th Indian Eye Research Group Meeting, Chennai, India, 2019
  • OPTINT 2019 Conference, Chennai, India, 2019
  • Ornate India project conference, Chennai, India, 2021
  • 19th Dr E Vaithialingam Memorial Scientific Session, Chennai, India, 2021
  • Participated in retina risk project conference, Chennai, India, 2023

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Email

swathi_priyamn@unsw.edu.au

    1. Pradhana, D., Priya MN, S., Surya, J., Bhende, M., Laxmi, G., Sharma, T. and Raman, R., 2022. Optical coherence tomography–based prevalence of diabetic macular edema and its associated risk factors in Urban South India: a population–based study. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 29(2), pp.149-155.
    2. Pradhana, D., Priya, N.S., Manayath, G.J., Kulkarni, S., Behera, U.C., Agarwal, T., Agarwal, M., Shah, S., Giridhar, A., Surya, J. and Ramasamy, K., 2024. Natural course of non-center-involving diabetic macular edema progression in patients under initial observation. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 72(2), pp.236-239.
    3. Chapter- Rajiv Raman, Priya N S, Priya. S. Genetics of ocular diseases (H.V. Nema, Springer, 2022)
    4. Singh, N., Priya, S., Shah, H. and Raman, R., 2021. Comparison of Ngenuity and Traditional Microscope in Vitreoretinal Surgeries from Surgeon’s Perspective. (Equally contributing first author)
    5. Khan, R., Surya, J., Roy, M., Priya, MN, S., Mohan, S., Raman, S., Raman, A., Vyas, A. and Raman, R., 2023. Use of artificial intelligence algorithms to predict systemic diseases from retinal images. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, 13(5), p.e1506.
    6. Surya, J., Pandy, N., Rim, T.H., Lee, G., Priya MN, S., Subramanian, B. and Raman, R., 2023. Efficacy of deep learning-based artificial intelligence models in screening and referring patients with diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, 71(8), pp.3039-3045.
    7. Agarwal, M., Sachdeva, M., Shah, S., Raman, R., Rani, P.K., Rajalakshmi, R., Sivaprasad, S., Vignesh, T.P., Ramasamy, K., Madharia, A. and Sen, A., 2022. International Ophthalmology, 42(11), pp.3333-3343.