Allison is currently appointed as the UWA/Lions Eye Institute Chair of Optometry Research. She is an AHPRA registered optometrist and has over 20 years research experience related to vision and visual disorder.

Allison’s research aims to improve understanding of normal visual processing and damage to vision due to disease, in addition to providing recommendations for improved clinical identification of vision disorder.  Applied aims include the development of better tests for the assessment of vision loss (particularly visual field assessment and its links to structural measures of the eye from ophthalmic imaging), in addition to improving understanding and management of the consequences of vision loss on performance in natural visual environments and day-to-day tasks. She has specific research interests in neurological disorders of the eye and brain (including glaucoma and migraine) and how normal ageing affects vision both from an ocular and cortical perspective. Her research uses a variety of contemporary human neuroscience methods such as novel visual assessments, and imaging of the human brain and eye.  

Allison’s research has been supported by funding from the ARC, NHMRC, philanthropic sources, and ophthalmic industry partners.

Previous grants awarded through prior institutions: 

• ARC Discovery DP190103141. Using visual science to reduce the dangers of night driving. 2019-2023 CIB $399,458
• ARC Discovery DP180102596. Neural plasticity in older adult human vision. CIA 2018-2022. $406,258
• ARC Linkage LP150100815 New, efficient tests that map both central and peripheral vision. CIB. 2015-2018. $299,118 (ARC), $105,000 (industry partner)
• NHMRC Project GNT 1081874 Cortical excitation in migraine: using vision to understand and track brain excitability. CIA, 2015-2017, $502,000
• ARC Discovery DP140100157 Centre-surround interactions in ageing human vision. Sole-CI. 2014-2016, $321,000
• ARC Linkage LP130100055 Exploiting high resolution images of the retina to customise vision tests. CIB. 2013-2016, $211,000 (ARC); $90,000 (Industry partner)
• ARC Future Fellowship FT0990930. Resolving multisensory conflict as we age: audio-visual integration and the role of normal and abnormal sensory decline. Sole-CI. 2009-2013; $688,000
• ARC Linkage LP100100250. Smart algorithms for visual field assessment. CIB. 2010-2012. $210,000 (ARC), $75,000 (industry partner)
• NHMRC Project GNT509208. Visual processing in migraine. CIA. 2008-2010. $322,000
• ARC Discovery DP0877923. Understanding the consequences of normal aging on visual form perception. Sole-CI. 2008-2010. $100,000
• NHMRC Project GNT353567. Characterising the changes in regulation of visual contrast sensitivity in glaucoma. CIA. 2005-2007. $334,000.
• ARC Discovery DP04500820. Design and analysis of optimised algorithms for automated perimetry. CIB. 2004-2006. $151,000

Philanthropic funding

• Dementia Australia Research Grant. “Breaking down barriers to accessing dementia friendly eyecare”. Co-Investigator. 2021-2023. $90K
• Victorian Optometry Training and Education Grant: “Improving Headache Screening in Optometry Practice”: Co-Investigator, 2018-2019, $7K
• Kenneth Myer Charitable Fund: $110,000. 2017-2018. CIA.
• Melbourne Neuroscience Institute Seeding Grant: “7T imaging of the eye”, 2018. CIA. $26,000
• ANZ Medical Technology Victoria: 2006: CIA $26K
• Raine Medical Research Foundation Priming Grant: “Vision after migraine: time course and localisation of deficits” CIA: 2003-2004 $52,000.

Industry Funding

Allison has been engaged in a broad range of contractual research with ophthalmic industry partners over the past decade.