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Dr Michael Crossland, UCL & Moorfields Eye Hospital - £134,280

This project aims to improve the wellbeing and mental health of teenagers and young people with macular disease. Support services for those with visual impairment can be poorly linked and may not be widely known to those who need them. This work aims to connect the services most important to patients and see whether providing these services at point of diagnosis can help improve their quality of life.

Professor Adam Dubis, University College London - £244,860

This project aims to investigate which gene mutations may be involved in why those with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience differences in the rate of disease progression. Using artificial intelligence, the researchers aim to generate a way to subgroup patients based on genetic risk factors to better understand risk of progression.

Prof Robin Walker, Royal Holloway University - £37,178

Many people with vision loss experience Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS), which leads to visual hallucinations. These hallucinations can range from simple shapes and patterns to vivid and realistic faces and scenes. They can severely affect a person’s life and can be distressing. This trial aims to test current suggested techniques for reducing the severity of hallucinations.

Professor Reinhold Medina, Queen’s University Belfast - £242,783

Blood vessels in the eye play a vital role in carrying oxygen and nutrients to the retina and especially the macula, which requires high levels of oxygen. Those with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) appear to have more damage in these blood vessels. This work aims to understand why this is and to test whether, if we can stop this damage, we can stop the progression of AMD.

Professor Maria Balda, University College London - £249,451

The cells in the macula are very active in order to sense light and send that information to the brain. This means that they are exposed to a lot of stress, which can lead to cell damage and sight loss. This research is looking at a biochemical pathway that is believed to be involved in reducing the effects of stress in these cells. This pathway is thought to be impaired in people with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Dr Colin Chu, UCL, Institute of Ophthalmology - £119,830

This project aims to better understand how cells in the macula work and interact with each other, to understand how this changes with age and macular disease.

Dr Wioleta Zelek, Cardiff University - £120,000

This project is looking to find drugs that can stop the overactive cycle of inflammation, which leads to cell damage in dry AMD.

Professor Karl Matter, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology - £120,000

Research into a gene therapy for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which aims to maintain the health of cells in the macula that are vital for vision.

Professor Omar Mahroo, UCL, Institute of Ophthalmology – £119,868 (co-funded with Retina UK)

People with Stargardt disease may experience flashing lights in their vision (photopsia) or discomfort due to bright light or glare (photophobia). Both have an impact on daily life but go unrecognised and under-researched by clinicians. This work aims to better understand the prevalence, impact and cause of these symptoms.

Dr Roly Megaw, University of Edinburgh - £119,328 (co-funded with Retina UK)

Different mutations in the RPGR gene lead to quite different types of disease, affecting either the rod or cone photoreceptors, our light-sensing cells in the retina. This project aims to understand the function of the RPGR gene in photoreceptors, to understand why mutations lead to disease, and hopefully identify possible future treatment targets.