
WHO WE ARE:
Ophthalmic Trials Australia (OTA) is an independent clinical trial organization grown from more than 20 years in optometry and specialist fields within Mark Hinds optometry and collaboration with ophthalmology our portfolio brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Our clear advantage for CRO’s and sponsors is our ability to streamline and expedite the clinical trial process. Our growing database of more than 15 000 patients over many years of professional networking sees patients referred from a broad range of age, ethnic, genetic and lifestyle backgrounds from which to source participants. Our collaboration with and reach into both private and public ophthalmology facilitates the opportunity to delve into their extensive resources and patient base.
We have local governance and an experienced clinical trial team that will see the project from inception to completion and publication. We have the capacity to lead and collaborate.
Our drive to conduct trials for targeted research to save sight and bring a change to quality of life for many is our passion and focus. By delivering well run and efficient clinical trials our goal is to safely get investigational products to market faster.
CRO’s and Sponsors
MEET SOME OF OUR TEAM

TRACEY
Tracey is OTA’s lead point of contact for both CRO’s and sponsors.
After close to a decade working in both Retail and Wholesale Financial Markets including roles in Risk Management Tracey is our logistical and financial lead.
Tracey’s drive and competitive edge is evidenced by the successful practice she has helped to develop. As Practice Manager of Mark Hinds Optometrists, Tracey has ensued success by creating, adapting and implementing business models in an everchanging landscape.
In addition to her role with Mark Hinds Optometrists, Tracey has overseen the Australian distribution and accounts for an international innovative contact lens company. Her years of experience in management, finance, logistics and communications has driven Tracey to create Ophthalmic Trials Australia together with her husband Mark.
Tracey has used her knowledge and proficiency in both risk management and healthcare management to incorporate clinical trials into their practice. Co-ordinating participants, managing trial budgets, maintaining research governance, data collection, managing external audit processes and demonstrating high ethical disciplines are only a small part of what it takes to successfully run ongoing clinical trials. Tracey plays a critical and key role in the successful execution of many clinical trials within Ophthalmic Trials Australia.
Tracey is a competitive perfectionist. Is this due to her lifetime of competitive sports played at all levels. Or simply her fun warm personality that wishes to channel her care for her patients well-being with the potential of further improving their clinical outcomes by offering clinical trials through this arm of our ever evolving and growing company.

NATALIE
Natalie is one of our nursing additions to the OTA team. She had been searching for an avenue to put her nursing degree back to work when the role came up as Clinical Nurse coordinator for the Ophthalmic trials…and never looked back!
Natalie’s experience as an Intensive Care nurse is evidenced by her enjoying the more technical aspects of the Ophthalmic role where her task-focused and meticulous approach can be expressed. She has fulfilled the roles of study coordinator and been an integral part of the unblinded pharmacy team.
Natalie has a vast array of interests and qualifications ranging from travel to counselling to interior design. Her fulfilment comes from helping others and joy from witnessing improved outcomes in all aspects of patient care.

GEORGIA
Georgia has been working in our team for a number of years, not only through her senior school years but also during her Biomedical Science Degree leading into her Medical Degree in 2022.
Georgia, as a research scientist, is our most experienced team member assistant to date. She has performed multiple roles including Clinical Trial coordinator and unblinded Pharmacist for the clinical trials that require governance, Georgia is a qualified Governance Officer.
Coming from an extended medical family, Georgia herself is drawn to medicine and is enjoying the medical program at Bond University pursuing her dream of becoming a paediatrician.

Luisa Holguin Colorado
PhD, BAppSc(optom), FAAO
Dr Colorado is our ethics lead scientist and ascertains and evaluates CRO submissions for OTA’s clinical trial viability. She graduated with a five-year optometry degree in Colombia and worked as a clinical optometrist in ophthalmology clinical and surgical practices for two years before coming to Australia.
She embarked on a PhD in 2013 supervised by Emeritus Professor Nathan Efron AC.
She completed a research fellowship at the Contact Lens and Visual Optics Laboratory and The Anterior Eye Laboratory at the Queensland University of Technology, conducting research work for the contact lens industry, such as Johnson & Johnson Vision Care and CooperVision.
She is currently involved in numerous clinical trials as Principal Investigator, Sub-Investigator, Clinical Coordinator and Ethics consultant for Brisbane Sites undertaking trials with recognized ocular pharma worldwide. She brings this wealth on knowledge and experience onboard to Ophthalmic Trials Australia.
As a recognized leader in dry eye disease, ocular surface disease and corneal nerve pain, Luisa leads our dry eye team and runs our Dry Eye Suite with onsite IRPL and DED treatment options.

SARAH
Sarah was a patient at Mark Hinds Optometrists when she was recruited to work at the practice.
Sarah had just completed her Bachelor of Science degree and was working on clinical trials at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. Given her scientific knowledge and research experience, she came on board to assist with the data entry and coordinating for a number of larger scale clinical trials at OTA.
Sarah is completing a Medical Degree at the University of Queensland. Sarah hopes to one day work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service or Doctors without Borders to aide those who have limited access to medical care.
Sarah had the prestigious role of being School Captain at Brisbane Girls Grammar and played soccer in the National Premier League in Queensland.

AVA
Ava is our latest study coordinator recruit. She facilitates logistics at front of practice and has completed of a Diploma in Business in 2021.
With already acquired leadership and organizational skills and work ethic, Ava is one of the OTA’s unblinded pharmacy team.
Ava’s self motivation, bright personality, insight into business operations and her proven organizational, communication, customer service and leadership skills make her a valued member of the Ophthalmic Trials Australia team.

Ally
Ally is our vision scientist graduating with a Bachelor of Vision Science from QUT in 2021 and will be graduating with her Masters of Optometry at the completion of 2023. Ally is has completed her training in E-Eye IRPL and is part of our dry eye team and our research arm for clinical trial team. She is a sub-investigator in many of our trials and in fast gaining experience in pharmaceutical ophthalmic clinical trials.