Supercomputer focus on glaucoma

Researchers at the University of Melbourne-based Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative (VLSCI) have enthusiastically welcomed the arrival of the Blue Gene supercomputer at the Parkville Precinct.

Associate Professor Andrew Turpin from the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the University of Melbourne will be among the first researchers to use the Blue Gene supercomputer and says its large-scale processing capacity will advance his research into improving vision testing.

The Blue Gene supercomputer, the most powerful computer dedicated to life sciences research in the southern hemisphere, has been provided by IBM as part of its partnership with the $100 million VLSCI hosted by the University of Melbourne. The VLSCI was established in 2008 by the University and Victorian government to significantly strengthen research capabilities.

“One of the main tools in our development of faster, more accurate eye testing is computer simulation that assesses the whole field of vision,” says Associate Professor Turpin. “Currently these tests take days on a standard computer, but with Blue Gene we can do them in minutes, allowing even more complex approaches to be evaluated.

“Current clinical tests of the visual field are highly variable, and it can take several years to reliably determine if vision is deteriorating due to glaucoma. Our novel combination of data from both images of the optic nerve, and our new visual field testing strategies, will reduce this time dramatically.”

Dr Allison McKendrick from the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and co-researcher with Associate Professor Turpin on the project, says the benefits of better vision testing will benefit hundreds of thousands of Australians with, or at risk of, glaucoma.

“Glaucoma is the second leading cause of irreversible vision loss in older Australians. Improving the accuracy of detection and monitoring of vision loss greatly enhances a clinician’s ability to treat this disease,” says Dr McKendrick.

Practitioners in the field agree. Associate Professor Michael Coote, Clinical Director of the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital’s Glaucoma Unit offered congratulations on what he termed “a magnificent exercise”.

“To date, visual field testing has been limited and rudimentary in that it’s been impossible to simulate the real world in a testing environment,” said Associate Professor Coote. “Due to the nature of glaucoma, this has been of particular concern. People suffering from glaucoma can be oblivious to the disease, and think they’re seeing normally until they actually start to trip over things. By which time, the damage is irreversible.”

John Keeffe, who was diagnosed with glaucoma when he was in his early 40s, has been taking drops to stem the likelihood of macular degeneration for years. “I was one of the lucky ones,” says Mr Keeffe. Because there is history of glaucoma in my family, I had my eyes checked as a precaution. But most people don’t, and the problem goes undiagnosed with disastrous consequences for people later in life.

“What I’m hopeful of is that this supercomputer may lead researchers to discoveries that will enable them to reverse the damage glaucoma causes, something that is currently irreversible. “

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