Personal Statement
I am a clinician researcher with expertise in inflammatory eye disease (uveitis), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal imaging, infectious retinal disease and diabetic retinopathy. My research in malarial retinopathy has included seminal discoveries in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria, and given me an ongoing research interest in ophthalmology in resource-poor settings. In the UK I am leading research into improving measurable endpoints in uveitis and retinal vasculitis through utilising cutting edge ocular imaging. I am interested in medicine repurposing for AMD to identify new treatments which will reduce its progression, visual disability and treatment burden.

I am an experienced principal investigator on many clinical trials in AMD, uveitis and diabetic retinopathy from phase 1 to 4 studies. My clinical work is as a consultant ophthalmologist at St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital with special interest in retinal disease and uveitis. I am a committee member for the European Vision Clinical Research AMD expert committee, and previously for the Scientific Committee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and Speciality Lead for Ophthalmology for the regional NIHR Clinical Research Network.

Research Overview
I have made a large contribution to the knowledge and understanding of malarial retinopathy and how it relates to cerebral malaria, and am a foremost expert in this field. As a result of my research, malarial retinopathy is included in the WHO treatment guidelines for severe malaria and the main medical textbooks. Its diagnostic and prognostic value is recognised by 80% of surveyed physicians in endemic regions, and insights into pathogenesis from my malarial retinopathy research have influenced treatment trials in cerebral malaria. I currently have a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award to investigate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of the eyes to identify children with cerebral malaria at high risk from death and disability due to brain swelling and injury.

The retina is the only tissue where inflamed blood vessels can be directly visualised, and yet retinal vasculitis is a feature of uveitis which is very poorly assessed. I developed and validated a new severity grading scheme using wide-field retinal angiography for use in clinical practice and trials. We have also demonstrated that the assessment could be automated using machine learning. By improving end-points in uveitis, I collaborate with other experts in the field aiming to improve clinical trial design and the pipeline of anti-inflammatory drugs available for uveitis patients.

I am currently principal investigator (PI) for phase 2 studies of new treatments for dry AMD and uveitis, but have experience as PI for numerous phase 2 and 3 trials, and also first-in-human phase 1 studies. I have collaborated with the Dept of Electrical Engineering to develop a low-cost handheld OCT for cerebral malaria research, and this has given me knowledge of leading a novel medical device trial. Awareness of the importance of sustainable healthcare has fuelled my interest in how established medicines could be repurposed for AMD and I am developing a clinical trial in this area.

Peer-reviewed publications: 95; citations >6,000; h-index 36 (Google scholar)