2006 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Queen's University Belfast
Elaine Latimer
Centre for Vision Science, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast

The Centre for Vision Science (CVS) at Queen's University Belfast is a focused research grouping within the School of Biomedical Sciences which has emerged as a leading programme in academic ophthalmology in the UK with an operating budget of around �1M/year. The research strategy of this grouping has been to build on proven strengths that are focused on fundamental and clinical investigative aspects of sight-threatening retinal microvascular and degenerative diseases.


Confocal scanning microscope

CVS research is genuinely multidisciplinary in nature, with an integrated mixture of approaches ranging from basic cell and molecular biology, pathophysiology of disease, genetic analysis, protein chemistry, patient-based investigation and clinical trials. Priority has and will continue to be given to translating fundamental research i.e., development of drugs and pharmacological agents into practical and valid treatments for important eye diseases. For example, the MRC is funding a major project to develop and ophthalmoscope-based Raman spectroscope to non-invasively identify (and diagnose early) diabetes and age-related defects in the eyes of patients.

Within this CVS framework, we educate medical students, graduate students and post-doctoral researchers, giving unique opportunities for career development and advancement in biomedical research. In terms of locality, most of our research is located in recently refurbished, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities based in the Royal Victoria Hospital campus. Here we enjoy a 900 square metre laboratory complex with high-level equipment and specialized facilities that are dedicated to ophthalmic research. There is also a fully-functional and impressively equipped clinical facility which has been set-up to conduct clinical trials, angiogram grading within an international telemedicine centre and sophisticated retinal imaging/phenotyping.

More detailed information can be obtained from our web-site ( http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforVisionSciences/ )

Contact; Elaine Latimer,
Centre for Vision Science,
Ophthalmic Research Centre,
Institute of Clinical Science, Block A
Royal Victoria Hospital, BELFAST. BT12 6BA.
Tel: [028] 9063 2727 Fax: [028] 9063 2699
E-mail: [email protected]