This website explores the work of Nigel Brookes - software, images, history, and science.
Gr. protos, first.
Other sites Nigel is involved with include:
Science
In 1989, after completing an MSc (Hons) in Physiology at The University of Auckland, I started working for the New Zealand National Eye Bank
as the Senior Technical Officer.
Highlights include:
Setting up the New Zealand National Eye Bank's organ culture storage facility - the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1991 over 3000 people have had a sight-restoring corneal transplant with tissue stored in this facility.
Developing and maintaining a database to manage the New Zealand National Eye Bank's mountain of data about the donors, corneal organ culture, recipients, transplantation, and follow-up. This is now the most comprehensive set of data about New Zealand corneas. The unique and valuable information about the corneal organ culture storage process is now being used to help implement the organ culture system in Australia.
Developing powerful new methods for visualising the corneal keratocyte network using confocal microscopy and fluorescent vital dyes together with other immunohistochemical methods.
Discovering that the human corneal keratocyte network can be divided into three morphologically and physiologically distinct subpopulations depending on their location within the stroma.
Developing a model for understanding the pathogenesis and progression of the cornea-thinning disease - keratoconus.
Identifying the way isolated groups of keratoconic keratocytes start producing proteolytic enzymes that destroy the surrounding extracellular matrix, directly causing the dramatic and characteristic keratoconic thinning cone.
Characterising other features of the gradient of keratoconic disease spreading outward from the keratoconic cone, in particular the involvement of nerves passing between epithelium and stroma creating a feedback loop of stromal destruction and healing.
1989 –
Senior Technical Officer with The New Zealand National Eye Bank, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland.
278 Citations received 1996-2010 (excluding self-citations).
In Preparation
Niederer RL, Hickey D, Brookes NH, Park SJK, Humphries F, McGhee CHJ and Sherwin T. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrates that human corneal nerve regeneration is never complete following penetrating keratoplasty.
Patel HY, Ormonde S, Brookes NH, Moffatt L, Sherwin T and McGhee CNJ. The New Zealand National Eye Bank: Assessment of survival and visual outcome one year following corneal transplantation 1993-2001.
Patel HY, Ormonde S, Brookes NH, Moffatt L, Sherwin T and McGhee CNJ. Ethnicity differences and current trends in indications for penetrating keratoplasty in New Zealand 2000-2003 - an update from the 1991-1999 study.
Submitted
Park SJK, Brookes NH, Niederer RL, McGhee CNJ and Sherwin T. Case Report: A case of early onset Fuch's endothelial corneal dystrophy with a novel pathological phenotype. Cornea - submitted.
2009
Nominated for a University of Auckland General Staff Award for Excellence in Teamwork.
Brookes NH, Niederer RL, Hickey D, McGhee CNJ, Sherwin T. (2009) Recurrence of keratoconic pathology in corneal regrafts originally grafted for keratoconus. Cornea, Volume 28(6), 688-693. (Ineligible) finalist for the Castroviejo Cornea Society 2010 Troutman Cornea Prize for the paper published in Cornea during the previous year judged to be most outstanding and innovative (and authored by an investigator 40 years of age or younger).
Non-therapeutic use of human tissue. New Zealand Standard, NZS 8135:2009. (Development Committee Member 2006-2009). 
2008
Awarded the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Science Ian Houston Award for Sustained Excellence in Job Performance.
Brookes NH, Niederer RL, Hickey D, McGhee CHJ, Sherwin T. Recurrence of keratoconus following penetrating keratoplasty. Oral presentation at 25th Cornea & Eye Bank Meeting, Brisbane, 21-22 February 2008.
Niederer RL, Hickey D, Brookes NH, Park S, Humphries F, McGhee CNJ, Sherwin T. Immunofluorescence microscopy of corneal nerve regeneration following penetrating keratoplasty. Oral presentation at 25th Cornea & Eye Bank Meeting, Brisbane, 21-22 February 2008.
Brookes NH, Niederer RL, Hickey D, McGhee CHJ, Sherwin T. Recurrence of keratoconus following penetrating keratoplasty. Oral presentation at the Global Keratoconus Congress, Las Vegas, 25-27 January 2008.
2007
Niederer RL, Brookes NH, Park S, McGhee CNJ, Sherwin T. Corneal nerve regeneration following penetrating keratoplasty. Oral presentation to 24th Annual Cornea and Eye Bank Meeting. Auckland. February 2007.
2006 - 2009
Standards New Zealand committee developing the New Zealand Standard for the Non-therapeutic Use of Human Tissue.
2006
Niederer RL, Brookes NH, Park S, McGhee CNJ, Sherwin T. Reinnervation of the human donor cornea following penetrating keratoplasty. Oral presentation to RANZCO 38th Annual Scientific Congress, Sydney, November 2006. [First prize for presentation session].
Park S, Niederer RL, Brookes NH, Sherwin T, McGhee CNJ. Histopathology of corneal tissue in subjects undergoing penetrating keratoplasty. Poster presentation to RANZCO 38th Annual Scientific Congress, Sydney, November 2006.
Park S, Niederer RL, Brookes NH, Sherwin T, McGhee CNJ. Cellular characteristics and corneal innervation in patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty. Poster presentation to RANZCO New Zealand Conference. Auckland. May 2006. [First prize in poster competition].
Brookes NH and Sherwin T. Particle deposition in the keratoconic cornea. Oral presentation to The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists New Zealand Meeting, Auckland, 26 August 2005.
Brookes NH. Keratoconus – Trapped in a cycle of destruction. Oral presentation to The New Zealand College of Optometrists Annual Conference, 26 August 2006.
Patel HY, Patel DV, Brookes NH, Mantell N, McGhee CNJ. (2006). Clinicopathologic features of severe corneal blood-staining associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. 34(3):272-4, 2006. Download PDF
2005
Patel HY, Ormonde S, Brookes NH, Moffatt L and McGhee CHJ (2005). The indications and outcomes of paediatric corneal transplantation in New Zealand: 1991-2003. British Journal of Ophthalmology 89: 404-408. Download PDF
Patel HY, Brookes NH, Moffatt L, Sherwin T, Ormonde S, McGhee CNJ. The New Zealand National Eye Bank Study 1991-2003: A Review of the Source and Management of Corneal Tissue. Cornea. 24(5):576-82, 2005. Download PDF
Patel HY, Ormonde S, Brookes NH, Moffatt L, Sherwin T and McGhee CNJ. The New Zealand National Eye Bank: Assessment of survival and visual outcome one year following corneal transplantation 1993-2001. Oral presentation to The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, Hobart, Australia, 8 November 2005.
2004
Sherwin T and Brookes NH. (2004). Morphological changes in keratoconus: pathology or pathogenesis. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 32: 211–217. (3rd most downloaded article from Blackwell Scientific’s ‘Synergy’ website in 2004). Download PDF
Sherwin T, Brookes NH, Loh J and McGhee J. (2004). Aetiology of keratoconus: news from the lab. NZ Optics Magazine, May 2004, 10-11.
2003
Brookes NH, Loh I-P, Clover GM, Poole CA, Sherwin T. Involvement of corneal nerves in the progression of keratoconus. Experimental Eye Research 77: 515-524. Download PDF
Poole CA, Brookes NH, Clover GM. Confocal imaging of the human keratocyte network using the vital dye 5-chloromethylfluorescein diacetate. Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology 31(2): 147-54. Download PDF
Also cover image and editorial pp. 91.
2002
Brookes NH, Loh I-P, Clover GM, Poole CA, Sherwin T. Is keratoconus a case of matrix remodelling gone crazy? Poster presented at ORIA meeting, Sydney, Australia.
Sherwin T, Brookes NH, Loh I-P, Poole CA, Clover GM. Cellular incursion into Bowman's membrane in the peripheral cone of the keratoconic cornea. Experimental Eye Research 74(4): 473-82. Download PDF
Edwards M, Clover GM, Brookes NH, Pendergrast D, Chaulk J, McGhee CN. Indications for corneal transplantation in New Zealand: 1991-1999. Cornea 21(2): 152-5. Download PDF
2001
Brookes NH, Sherwin T, Loh I-P, Poole CA, Clover GM. Using interactive multimedia to investigate the structure and function of the corneal keratocyte network. Microscopy and Analysis, September: 5-7.
2000
Brookes NH, Sherwin T, Loh I-P, Poole CA and Clover GM. Nerves crossing Bowman's layer in keratoconus are a site of epithelial-stromal interaction. Poster presented at ORIA meeting, Sydney, Australia.
1999
Sherwin T, Brookes NH, Poole CA, Clover GM. Visualisation of the human corneal keratocyte network and associated gap junction proteins in three dimensions. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 40(4): S621: ARVO Annual Meeting, Florida, U.S.A.
1998
Clover GM, Brookes NH, Poole CA. Simultaneous co-localisation of keratocytes and connexins 43 and 50. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 39(4): S453, ARVO Annual Meeting, Florida, U.S.A.
1997
Brookes NH, Clover GM, Poole CA. Techniques for visualising the corneal keratocyte in situ. Poster and presentation at ORIA meeting, Canberra, Australia.
Brookes NH, Clover GM, Poole CA. Imaging the corneal keratocyte network. Presentation at Microscopy ’97 conference, Auckland.
1996
Poole CA, Brookes NH, Clover GM. Confocal Imaging of the Keratocyte Network in Living Porcine Corneae using the fixable Fluoroprobe 5-Chloromethylfluorescein Diacetate. Current Eye Research 15: 165-174. Download PDF
Clover GM, Poole CA, Brookes NH. Techniques for visualising the corneal keratocyte in situ. Poster/Presention at ORIA Meeting, Sydney, Australia.
Clover GM, Poole CA, Brookes NH. Confocal imaging of gap junction protein associated with the keratocytes of the human cornea. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology (Supplement): 24(2): 10-12. Download PDF
Clover GM, Poole CA, Brookes NH. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of human corneal keratocytes with co-localised membrane gap junction proteins. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 37/3: S1013.
1995
Poole CA, Brookes NH, Gilbert RT, Beaumont BW, Crowther A, Scott L, Merrilees MJ. Detection of viable and non-viable cells in connective tissue explants using the fixable fluoroprobes 5-chloromethylfluorescien diacetate and ethidium homodimer-1. Connective Tissue Research 33(4): 233-241. Download PDF
Clover GM, Poole CA, Brookes NH. Keratocytes: diverse interconnecting cell populations. Poster/Presentation at ORIA Meeting, Canberra, Australia.
1993
Poole CA, Brookes NH, Clover GM. Keratocyte networks visualised in the living cornea using vital dyes. Journal of Cell Science 106: 685-692. Download PDF
1992
Brookes NH, Poole CA, Clover GM. Visualisation of keratocytes in the living cornea. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science: 33(4), 1401.
Clover GM, Brookes NH, Poole CA. Visualisation of keratocytes in the living cornea. The European Congress of Ophthalmology, Brussels.
Clover GM, Brookes NH, Poole CA. Imaging of the corneal keratocyte. College of Ophthalmologists Annual Scientific Meeting, Birmingham, UK.
1990
Pockett S, Brookes NH, Bindman LJ. Long-term depression at synapses in slices of rat hippocampus can be induced by bursts of postsynaptic activity. Experimental Brain Research 80(1): 196-200. Download PDF
1989
Master of Science in Physiology, with Second Class Honors, Division One, University of Auckland. Thesis: Long-term depression of synaptic response in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus.
1986
Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology and Physiology, University of Auckland.