Hilary Goh, recipient of the inaugural Gordon Sanderson Scholarship from Glaucoma New Zealand

Less than a year after announcing the establishment of the Gordon Sanderson Scholarship, Glaucoma New Zealand (GNZ) has announced its first awardee - Hilary Goh, a fifth-year medical student for her summer research project investigating 'Nailfold capillary abnormalities in glaucoma'.

Goh, who undertook her research project within the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland, is one of the top medical students at the University, said Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer, chair of GNZ. “She is razor sharp, dedicated and great with patients. She was a natural fit for the project as it was very demanding.”

Goh’s project explored whether nailfold capillary health can be used as a biomarker for glaucoma progression, based on the hypothesis that glaucoma involves vascular dysautoregulation, explained Prof Danesh-Meyer, who was also Goh’s supervisor for the project. “There is some evidence to support this from Harvard which demonstrates there is a difference between the nailfold capillary of glaucoma patients compared to controls. Hilary's project is an extension of this work to see if it correlates with glaucoma severity and progression.”

Presenting her work at the Auckland Summer Student Symposium in March (see p21), Goh concluded that primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients did indeed have nailfold capillary (NFC) abnormalities and abnormal NFC is associated with increased risk of POAG and more severe visual field loss. However, more studies were needed as was an improved capillary grading system, she said.

Prof Danesh-Meyer said GNZ decided to award the first scholarship this year as they had received a number of pledges and donations since announcing the new scholarship in August last year. The scholarship was set up in honour of the much-admired Associate Professor Gordon Sanderson, a founding trustee of GNZ, who died earlier in the year.

“Gordon was very passionate about GNZ and the prevention of blindness from glaucoma. He was a huge advocate for students and relished seeing students involved in research,” said Prof Danesh-Meyer. “I know from personal experience that Gordon always helped provide opportunities to students to be involved in eye research. I was one of these students. GNZ is committed to ensuring his passion for students and research is continued through this scholarship.”

GNZ will be advertising for applications for the 2019 scholarship from June this year. The scholarship is available to medical and optometry students, ophthalmologists or optometrists undertaking research or teaching experience in glaucoma from the Universities of Auckland, Otago or Sydney as these institutions had close ties with A/Prof Sanderson.

To find out more or to contribute to the Gordon Sanderson Scholarship fund, please visit www.glaucoma.org.nz.