Consultant and
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External resources

• Website
• Teaching at Merton College Oxford
• Research Milestones

Current NHS consultant posts held

Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Oxford Eye Hospital and Honorary Consultant at Moorfields Eye Hospital

Research interests

Clinical and laboratory research is dedicated to finding new treatments for blindness, particularly in patients with incurable retinal diseases. Includes developing gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors in the lab and in forthcoming clinical trials.

A clinical research program in artificial vision with bio-genetic and electronic devices. Developing new eye surgery techniques for age-related macular degeneration, cataract and macular hole surgery.

Personal interests

Prior to ophthalmology, Robert was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps. He saw active service as a Section Commander with 16 Armoured Field Ambulance and latterly served as the Surgeon Major to the Honourable Artillery Company in London. He remains a keen supporter of the military and provides concessions for former service personnel. In 2004 he was awarded the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal (VR).

Awards received

European Association for Vision and Eye Research keynote lecture (2016)
RP Scientist of the Year (2015)
The Euretina Lecture (2014)
Euretina Innovation Award (2014)
The Jessie Mole Lecture (2014)
ARVO Camras Award (2013)
Percival Hay Lecture and Medal (2010)
MRC Neurosciences Board Showcase Exhibition (2008)
King James IV Professorship of Surgery (2007)
Founder’s Cup and Medal, Oxford Ophthalmological Congress (2005)
Moorfields Eye Hospital Research Prize and Gold Medal (2005)

Publications

Visual Acuity after Retinal Gene Therapy for Choroideremia.
Edwards TL. et al, (2016), N Engl J Med, 374, 1996 - 1998

Rescue of the Stargardt phenotype in Abca4 knockout mice through inhibition of vitamin A dimerization.
Charbel Issa P. et al, (2015), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 112, 8415 - 8420

Retinal gene therapy in patients with choroideremia: initial findings from a phase 1/2 clinical trial.
MacLaren RE. et al, (2014), Lancet, 383, 1129 - 1137

Reversal of end-stage retinal degeneration and restoration of visual function by photoreceptor transplantation.
Singh MS. et al, (2013), Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 110, 1101 - 1106

Retinal repair by transplantation of photoreceptor precursors.
MacLaren RE. et al, (2006), Nature, 444, 203 - 207