My research to date has mainly centred on Age-related macular degeneration (AMD).   My PhD thesis conducted within the department was entitled “Macular Pigment (MP) and Visual Function in Ageing and Age-related Maculopathy” (2005).  It focused on changes in visual function during the early stages of AMD as well as identifying risk factors for progression to advanced disease.

Obtaining an Australian Bicentennial scholarship in 2006 enabled me to spend a year at the University of Melbourne where I worked mainly on a twin study investigating the extent to which genetics determines visual function later in life.  A two-year post-doc at the Department of Experimental Psychology in Cambridge followed, and provided the opportunity to take these concepts further as the PERGENIC project aimed to investigate the relationship between visual perception and genetics. 

My interests focus on the intersection between ocular aging and the development of age-related diseases such as Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma and also risk factors for progression of these diseases to their sight threatening forms. I have a particular interest in the relationship between diet and nutrition and age-related eye disease and the use of dietary intervention or supplementation to delay or stop progression.

I lead the Eye component of the NICOLA study

My interests focus on the intersection between ocular aging and the development of age-related diseases such as Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma and also risk factors for progression of these diseases to their sight threatening forms.

My lab is focused on the following themes:

1. The epidemiology of age-related eye diseases such as Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), Diabetic Retinopathy and Glaucoma.

2.Exploring the ultility of new technologies for measuring and monitoring visual function including both handheld devices and virtual reality headsets. I am co chief-investigator of the multi-centre MONARCH trial which aims to explore the potential of home monitoring of vision for age-related macular degeneration patients. THis work is funded by NIHR-HTA.

3. Identifying structural, serological and functional biomarkers of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Diabetic Retinopathy that may enable early detection and more accurate prognoses.

4. Understanding the differences between normal ocular ageing and the earliest stages of AMD, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.

5. Clarifying the relationship between diet and nutrition and age-related eye disease and explore the use of dietary intervention or supplementation to delay or stop progression. 

Undergraduate:

Personal tutor and Portfolio adviser to 17 undergraduate Medical students

Module Co-ordinator and Lecturer- “The eye as the window to the body” (2^nd Year Medicine)

Ocular Anatomy and Physiology (2^nd Year Medicine)

History taking and Clinical Skills (3rd year Medicine)

Postgraduate

• MPH project supervision
• Facilitate a Data Science for Postgraduate students study group

PhD Supervision

Damian Cole (1st Supervisor)

Rachel Coey (2nd Supervisor)

Rachel McCarter (1st Supervisor)

Timos Naskas (1st Supervisor)

Aniela Kazmierczak (2nd supervisor)

Paul McCann (2nd supervisor)

Previous Students:

Dr Katie Graham graduated December 2017, currently working as a Specialist Research Optometrist with the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network and Eye Casualty.

Dr Nicola Quinn graduated December 2017, currently working as a post-doctoral fellow within the lab, continuing work on wide-field imaging and retinal disease.

Dr Radha Das is due to graduate July 2018, currently working as a retinal surgery fellow at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London.

Dr Estelle Lowry is currently working as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Oulu, Finland.