Sight charity looks to Manchester
22 March 2010
A team led by Manchester experts has been awarded funding of £500,000 by the Fight for Sight charity for a new research programme to develop UK wide, high quality care services for patients with inherited retinal diseases.
The five-year programme will be led by Professor Graeme Black, Director of the National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, supported by Professor Tony Moore of Moorfields Eye Hospital and Miss Susie Downes of Oxford Eye Hospital.
Genetic disorders account for over half of childhood visual impairment and one in 3,500 of the population are affected by inherited retinal diseases. Although there is no effective prevention or cure, research has identified many of the genes that cause inherited retinal disease and a free national service for genetic testing exists in the UK. However, access to the testing and the standard of support available to patients varies throughout the country.
Working with patients and health professionals, Professor Black will examine existing programmes of care for families with genetic retinal diseases and will use the findings to develop a widely available clinical and diagnostic care service. The research programme will also investigate the potential of new technologies in DNA sequencing to identify patients with faults in genes known to cause eye disease and to identify new genes.
Professor Black, who is based in the School of Biomedicine, said: “I am delighted to be working with Fight for Sight. There is an increasing recognition that we ought to improve our understanding of the needs of those with inherited conditions that cause reduced vision. This research will help us to ensure that provision of care, and in particular of genetic testing, is as broadly available as possible.”
Michèle Acton, Chief Executive of Fight for Sight, added: “The outcome of this research funded by Fight for Sight will make a real difference to patients and families living with inherited eye disease.”
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre is a partnership between the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The University of Manchester.
Further information
- NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre
- Fight for Sight