UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
Encyclopedia
The UCL Institute of Ophthalmology is an institute within the Faculty of Brain Sciences of University College London (UCL)
and is based in London
, United Kingdom
. The Institute conducts research and post-graduate teaching in the area of ophthalmology
(the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye).
The Institute has a staff of around 200, including around 45 principal investigator
s, and cooperates closely with Moorfields Eye Hospital, which it is located adjacent to and with which it is a partner in the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology. Together with Moorfields Eye Hospital, the Institute is the oldest and largest centre for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in Europe
.
and eye-research charity Fight for Sight
and £6.5 million from the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline
.
In April 2008 the results of the world's first successful gene transplant for blindness trial, carried out by a team at the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital, were published. In April 2009, the Institute entered into a collaboration and license agreement with the pharmacutical company Pfizer
focused on gaining understanding into how to develop stem cell-based therapies for age-related macular degeneration. In the same month, details were published of the world's first stell cell based procedure for age-related macular degeneration, developed by researchers at the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital.
In September 2010 the Institute entered into a three-year agreement with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca
to collaborate on the identification of new treatments for diabetic retinopathy using the regenerative capacity of stem cells. In August 2011 the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital were jointly awarded a Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology by the National Institute of Health Research, supported by the award of £26.5 million over five years. In September 2011 a joint team from the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital received approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
to conduct a human embryonic stem cell therapy trial on patients with the incurable eye disease Stargardt. This was the first human stem cell therapy trial to receive approval from regulators in any European country.
The Institute currently offers the following postgraduate level courses:
The Institute also offers three- and four-year PhD programmes.
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
and is based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Institute conducts research and post-graduate teaching in the area of ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
(the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye).
The Institute has a staff of around 200, including around 45 principal investigator
Principal investigator
A principal investigator is the lead scientist or engineer for a particular well-defined science project, such as a laboratory study or clinical trial....
s, and cooperates closely with Moorfields Eye Hospital, which it is located adjacent to and with which it is a partner in the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology. Together with Moorfields Eye Hospital, the Institute is the oldest and largest centre for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
History
The Institute of Ophthalmology was officially opened in November 1948 as an ophthalmology training facility specialised in fundamental research. During the 1980s and 1990s the Institute moved in a phased manner from its original location in Judd Street to its present site in Bath Street adjacent to Moorfields Eye Hospital. The Institute merged with University College London in 1995, becoming the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. Between 1995 and 2002 the Institute expanded following the award of £8.8 million from the Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
and eye-research charity Fight for Sight
Fight for Sight (U.K.)
Fight for Sight is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease....
and £6.5 million from the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
.
In April 2008 the results of the world's first successful gene transplant for blindness trial, carried out by a team at the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital, were published. In April 2009, the Institute entered into a collaboration and license agreement with the pharmacutical company Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
focused on gaining understanding into how to develop stem cell-based therapies for age-related macular degeneration. In the same month, details were published of the world's first stell cell based procedure for age-related macular degeneration, developed by researchers at the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital.
In September 2010 the Institute entered into a three-year agreement with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
to collaborate on the identification of new treatments for diabetic retinopathy using the regenerative capacity of stem cells. In August 2011 the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital were jointly awarded a Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology by the National Institute of Health Research, supported by the award of £26.5 million over five years. In September 2011 a joint team from the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital received approval from the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is the UK government agency which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe....
to conduct a human embryonic stem cell therapy trial on patients with the incurable eye disease Stargardt. This was the first human stem cell therapy trial to receive approval from regulators in any European country.
Research
Research at the Institute is currently focused around the following seven key research areas:- GeneticsGeneticsGenetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
- Gene therapyGene therapyGene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...
- Cell transplantation
- Cell biology
- Disease processes
- Visual rehabilitation
- How we see
Education
- MSc in Clinical Ophthalmology
- MSc in Biology of Vision
The Institute also offers three- and four-year PhD programmes.
Library
The Institute operates a joint library with Moorfields Eye Hospital, which is located at the Institute. Access to the library for reference and study purposes is available to those working or studying at the Institute or at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Membership of the library is available to staff and students of the Institute and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and to staff and students of UCL and affiliated NHS Trusts.See also
- UCL PartnersUCL PartnersUCL Partners is an academic health science centre located in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest academic health science centre in Europe, treats more than 1.5 million patients each year, has an annual turnover of around £2 billion and includes around 3,500 scientists, senior researchers and...
- UCLH/UCL Comprehensive Biomedical Research CentreUCLH/UCL Comprehensive Biomedical Research CentreThe UCLH/UCL Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre is a biomedical research centre based in London, United Kingdom. It is a partnership between University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , University College London and the National Institute for Health Research and is one of five...
- Francis Crick Institute