Eye
University of Oxford (MacLaren, Cehajic-Kapetanovic, Xue) | UC Berkeley IGI (Wilson)
Our Eye research team is developing and testing new gene therapy approaches for inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), conditions that can cause progressive sight loss. These diseases affect the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into signals sent to the brain.
The team is investigating how genetic therapies could be used to address the underlying causes of retinal disease, with the aim of protecting retinal cells, slowing disease progression and potentially preserving or improving vision. Alongside developing these therapies, researchers are exploring delivery technologies that can transport therapeutic genetic material into the appropriate cells within the eye.
The research is organised around three parallel projects, each contributing to the development of a broader range of gene therapy tools and delivery methods. Together, these approaches aim to establish a flexible platform for developing treatments that could be adapted to different inherited retinal conditions and other diseases affecting vision.
By combining therapeutic development with advances in delivery technology, the team hopes to expand the range of retinal diseases that could be treated using gene-based medicines.
Research projects
Automated cell culture and screening at scale
Using the CellXpress.ai platform for faster and more standardised testing of potential therapies
Non-AAV delivery to retina
Investigating alternatives to adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, to deliver base editors to the eye
Gene knockdown in Wet AMD
Working to control AMD using CRISPR
Gene replacement in Retinitis Pigmentosa
Working to restore functional protein expression
Theme publications
Perivascular Astrocytic Gliosis Induced by Retinal Gene Therapy
Beyond innovation: why rare disease gene therapy needs a reset
EQ-5D vision bolt-on in macular degeneration: associations with visual measures and effect on utility differences and cost-effectiveness of stereotactic radiotherapy
Clinical Spectrum and Genetics of Ocular Manifestations in Muscle Eye Brain Disease: A Literature Review
Stereotactic radiotherapy for neovascular age related macular degeneration: year 3 and 4 extended follow up results of a randomised, double masked, sham controlled, device trial (STAR)
Genomic newborn screening for actionable, sight-threatening eye diseases
Efficacy of anti-VEGF single-chain variable fragment AAV-based gene therapy in a laser-induced choroidal neovascularisation mouse model
Health economic evaluations of genomic newborn screening: Approaches by studies within the international consortium on newborn sequencing
Centripetal Retinal Degeneration Follows an Exponential Decay and May Be Reversed Following Gene Therapy
Personalized CRISPR therapies could soon reach thousands — here’s how
Team
Maram Abdalla Elsayed
DPhil Student, University of Oxford
Divya Ail
Researcher
Marco Bellini
Project Manager, Clinical Ophthalmology Research Group, University of Oxford
Grace Borchert
DPhil Student, Ramsay Scholar and Clarendon Scholar, University of Oxford
Jasmina Cehajic Kapetanovic
MRC CoRE TG Eye Theme Co-Lead
MRC CoRE TG Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Co-Lead
Associate Professor and Consultant Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon, University of Oxford
Clara Ehrenzeller
DPhil student and Berrow Foundation Lord Florey Scholar
Sylvia Franklin
DPhil Student and Mabel Churn Scholar
Silja Haldrup
Postdoctoral Researcher
Molly John
DPhil student
Sahar Kiani
PA to Robert Maclaren
Vasil Kostin
DPhil Student and Macular Society Scholar
Francesco Langella
DPhil Student
Professor Robert MacLaren
MRC CoRE TG Eye Theme lead
Professor of Ophthalmology and Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon, University of Oxford
Cristina Martinez-Fernandez Dela Camara
Research Associate
Michelle McClements
Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Benjamin Ng
DPhil Student, Fight for Sight Scholar, University of Oxford
Arjun Padmanbhan
Post-doctoral researcher
Ahmed Salman
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Hoda Shamsnajafabadi
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Celia Sourd
Postdoctoral Research Scientist, University of Oxford
Tien-En Tan
DPhil Student
Beatrice Tynan
Researcher
Professor Ross Wilson
Kanmin Xue
MRC CoRE Eye Theme Co-Lead
Associate Professor & Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellow, University of Oxford
Qingyun Zheng
Postdoctoral Research Scientist