Mr Nicholas apollo

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Fulbright Postgraduate Scholar

Media profile

“There is currently no cure for the blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa. The engineers and clinicians at Bionic Vision Australia are working to develop an implantable retinal prosthetic device which could help people with degenerative retinal conditions to increase their perception of the physical environment.”

Mr. Nicholas Apollo, a recent graduate from University of Pittsburgh, has won a Fulbright Postgraduate Scholarship to spend time with Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) in Melbourne working on ways to improve life for blind people. BVA is a national consortium of research institutes at the forefront of retinal disease and prosthesis research.

“I will work with Bionic Vision Australia to perform physiological and psychophysical tests that will help to determine which blind patients will be excellent candidates for the Bionic Eye implant device,” Nicholas said.

Nicholas will work with Dr. Chi Luu and Dr. Lauren Ayton at the Centre for Eye Research Australia, one of BVA’s members, to examine the structure of an implant patient’s retina and measure the thicknesses of the different retinal layers using state-of-the-art optical imaging equipment and techniques. Previous work suggests that a patient with thicker retinal layers will have more success with the device.

Additionally, he will utilize his connections at Bionic Vision Australia to study how accessible and safe the city of Melbourne, and surrounding areas, are for the blind community.

“I will question patients about the current accessibility and safety of Melbourne, playing a key role in gathering data that will contribute to future devices and processes that will increase public safety,” Nicholas said

“It is my hope that I will gain valuable ideas and experiences in Australia, both of which will be directly applicable to my future career as an innovative medical practitioner and engineer. Additionally, I am eager to exchange ideas and interact directly with vision impaired patients, research scientists, and engineers in Australia to work toward improving the safety, quality of life, and overall well-being of the blind members of society.”

Nicholas has a BS in Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to his academic work, Nicholas has a strong interest in music, and volunteers in the hospital and with Habitat for Humanity, an organisation that remodels schools, churches, and homes in low income neighborhoods.