DR Mark Daniell

MS, FRACS, FRANZCO

Professor Mark Daniell is a senior consultant ophthalmic surgeon heading the corneal service at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital. With subspecialty interests in corneal disease, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts. He also performs aviation medical ophthalmic examinations (CASA).
He has been the president of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO).

He is the head of (CERA’S) corneal research. He is working to develop a tissue-engineered cornea.

Special Interests

Keratoconus

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disorder characterized by the thinning and bulging of the cornea, leading to distorted vision.

Corneal graft surgery

Corneal graft surgery, also known as corneal transplantation, is a surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced with a healthy donor cornea to restore vision and improve eye health.

Diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes-related eye disease characterized by damage to the blood vessels in the retina, potentially leading to vision impairment or blindness if left untreated.

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that affects the macula, causing central vision loss and making it difficult to read, drive, or recognize faces.

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which is typically clear. This clouding results in blurred or distorted vision and can eventually lead to vision impairment if left untreated.

Research

Prof Daniell has been an active clinician/researcher in the field of corneal tissue engineering and cell therapy, as well as clinical eye research. He has been a key contributor to original research papers and reviews. 

Prof Daniell has published over 92 papers in peer reviewed literature. He has given the Coster lecture and RANZCO Council lecture in 2015. Over his career he has been invited to speak at many meetings including Asia ARVO, APAO, ANZ Cornea meeting, RANZCO Annual Conference as well as at invited seminars at RMH, University of Melbourne, NSW Stem Cell network and Harbin Medical University China.  

Prof Daniell has a significant research interest in a bioengineered cornea, developing the concepts for this project and being the driving force gathering together the collaboration partners. He has had successful collaborations with numerous groups both nationally and internationally including an ongoing project with Prof Greg Qiao at Melbourne University and Prof Damien Harkin at QUT on tissue engineering for the eye. He has supervised several postgraduate students in the field of tissue engineering. 

He is an honorary Professor at Harbin University in China and regularly visits LV Prasad in Hyderabad. 

He is the founder of the Keratoconus International Consortium. 

Head of (CERA’S) corneal research.

Awards​


• President RANZCO 2016-2018
• Chair of ORIA 2009-2014
• Founding Chair of ANZ Cornea Society
• Professor University of Melbourne, Head of Surgical Research at Centre For Eye Research Australia
• Head of Corneal Service, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital

Memberships

  • FRANZCO
  • FRACS
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (President 2016-2018)
  • Australian and New Zealand Cornea Society (Inaugural Chair)
  • Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia (Past Chair)
  • Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges (Executive member)
  • International Council of Ophthalmology (Board member)
  • Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (Council member)

Qualifications


• MBBS (1986)
• MS (1992)
• FRANZCO (1990)
• FRACS (1993)