About

Dr. Daisy Y. Shu (She/Her)

BOptom (Hons), BSc, PhD, FAAO, FARVO

Scientia Senior Lecturer

School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health,

Level 3, Room 3.059, North Wing, Rupert Myers Building
UNSW SYDNEY 2052

T: +61 (2) 9348 1982

Dr Daisy Shu is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Optometry and Vision Science. Dr Shu received a Bachelor of Optometry and Vision Science from UNSW in 2013 and her PhD in biology from the University of Sydney in 2019. She conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, where she was appointed a Faculty Instructor, before returning to her alma mater at UNSW in 2023.

Dr Shu is an internationally recognised expert in retinal epithelial and endothelial cell biology and has been at the forefront of research in the mechanisms underlying retinal eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Australia. Her research focuses on the role of mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction in driving the pathogenic processes of retinal inflammation and angiogenesis. Moreover, Dr Shu’s studies have uncovered important discoveries in the molecular mechanisms underpinning epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a key process involved in scar formation during late-stage AMD.

Through her research, Dr Shu aims to translate her research into clinical trials and discover new cures for AMD. With a passion for science communication and outreach, Dr Shu co-hosts a podcast called “Behind our Science” that features interviews with scientists who share their stories behind their latest scientific discoveries. She also actively shares her scientific research journey through social media platforms as @EyeDaisyShu on Twitter and Instagram.

When Dr Shu is not researching, she enjoys yoga, swimming, baking, and spending time with her friends and family.

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