Highlights from our public lectures

Professor Krzysztof (Kris) Palczewski from University of California, Irvine, delivered our 2023 annual lecture

Fundamental science

Cell biology

• Key discoveries about the control of how cells join together
• Elucidation of mechanisms of how white blood cells get into the eye and the brain (critical to understanding inflammation)
• Studies of how molecules and organelles move within cells

Developmental biology

• Critical investigations of development of retinal circulation including parallels with neuronal development
• Studies of the development of nerve fibres from retina to brain

Genetics

• Unparalleled success in gene discovery for inherited eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, macular dystrophies and cataract
• Mechanisms of mutant gene action in inherited eye disease
• Genetic basis of colour vision

Vision

• Landmark investigations of the evolutionary significance of how different wavelengths of light are detected
• Central discoveries demonstrating the importance of feedback in vision
• Novel ideas as to how evolutionary principles can be brought to our understanding of vision

Clinical Science

Abnormalities of visual perception in CNS disorders

• Demonstration that visual perception is altered in schizophrenia and autism

Diagnostic imaging

• Pioneering of autofluorescence imaging of the retina, now used in clinical trials
• First visualisation of cell death in the living retina

Epidemiology

• Numerous international studies of eye disease and its treatment
• Involvement in ocular component of large UK surveys of ageing

Glaucoma

• Series of landmark innovations in controlling scarring after glaucoma surgery
• Optimising of surgical technique for glaucoma surgery
• Novel tools for assessing progression of disease

Intraocular inflammation

• Proof of principle use of gene therapy to suppress inflammation
• Demonstration of efficacy of statins in reducing ocular inflammation

Ocular surface disease   

• Accredited stem cell transplantation laboratory
• Demonstration of the role of T cells in allergic eye disease

Retinal degeneration including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration

• Proof of principle of restoration of photoreceptor structure and function with gene therapy
• Proof of principle of use of immortalised human RPE cells for retinal degeneration
• Elucidation of mechanisms of protein aggregation in retinitis pigmentosa

Retinal detachment

•  First successful treatment for post-detachment retinal scarring
•  First experimental model of post-detachment retinal scarring

Visual Rehabilitation

• Major longitudinal study of the natural adaptation to loss of central vision in age-related macular degeneration
• Comparative assessment of high-tech electronic low vision devices