Dr Danka Sampson is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia and a Researcher at the Lions Eye Institute, where her research focuses on developing standardised image analysis workflows to improve the detection and monitoring of ocular microvascular and photoreceptor cell diseases, particularly diabetic retinopathy and inherited retinal diseases. Her work has delivered demonstrable local, national and international impact through the development of unified protocols and interoperable tools that ensure reproducibility and scalability across institutions and devices, enabling the analysis of large, diverse datasets to uncover new patterns of retinal disease and improve clinical care. These advances directly benefit patients with diabetes and inherited retinal diseases, clinicians and health researchers, strengthening eye‑health screening and disease monitoring in Western Australia and contributing to globally adopted standards in ophthalmic imaging and vision science. Her contribution to health science has been recognised through her induction into the Western Australia Women’s Hall of Fame in 2026 in the Health category, and the 2026 Australian and New Zealand Optical Society Mid-Career Prize.

Beyond research, Sampson’s passions are science communication and developing a more inclusive society. She has designed and delivered 30+ STEM outreach programs and published two children’s STEM books to communicate the importance of optics and vision science. She is involved in the global optics and photonics community through her engagement with Optica and SPIE, the largest optics and photonics societies. She supports various committees and designs STEM educational games/materials. Her leadership in optics and vision science has earned her several prestigious international awards, including the Optica Ambassador Award (2017), presented annually to 10 individuals for their extraordinary contributions to the field; the Optica Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Recognition (2022); and the SPIE Diversity Award (2023). In 2024, she was awarded the Western Australia Young Tall Poppy Award for excellence in science research and communication. In 2026, she was elected as one of 40 SPIE Fellows. SPIE Fellows represent the highest level of professional recognition in optics and photonics. This distinction honours individuals whose exceptional technical achievements and leadership have made a significant impact on the field and the broader scientific community.