MEC_ImpactReport_2025_with updated figures, no guidelines, LR - Flipbook - Page 11
11
Funding from Moorfields Eye Charity has helped support or lead to
the following achievements for Professor Bainbridge and his lab:
1
spinout company
11
completed or
open clinical trials
28
researchers
10
trained/employed
collaborations
117
4
journal
articles published
Supported
PhD students
Amount of support leveraged from
over
£19m
other sources as a direct result of
Moorfields Eye Charity funding
Gene therapy is one area in
As Professor Bainbridge
widely available. Professor
ophthalmic research that has
explained,
Bainbridge added, “It’s when
seen remarkable progress,
particularly in treating children
born without functioning
copies of genes essential for
vision. Professor Bainbridge
added, “It’s possible to improve
That early support
has helped us demonstrate
potential and secure the
larger-scale funding needed
for clinical trials.
it gets to that stage that you
start to see the potential for
real impact - not just for rare
conditions, but also for more
common diseases affecting
many people.”
outcomes by providing the
The benefits of this support
Looking back on the progress
retina with the gene that’s
extend beyond the research
made, Professor Bainbridge
otherwise lacking. That can
itself. “Students form a large
was highly positive: “I’ve been
improve sight in the short term
part of our research teams,”
surprised how quickly the field
and may also help protect it in
he said. “They gain experience
has moved forward. I would
the longer term.”
in translational research,
not have imagined twenty
These advancements not only
and many go on to pursue
years ago that the progress
offer hope for rare inherited
careers in science, medicine,
could be so fast.”
conditions but are also
or industry.” Some stay at
He credits the long-term
laying the groundwork for
Moorfields, while others apply
relationship with Moorfields
treatments that could benefit a
their knowledge globally,
Eye Charity as a key factor
much wider group of patients.
improving treatments and
in the programme’s success.
Early, proof-of-concept studies
diagnostics for eye health.
“There’s trust and an
enabled by the charity have
Over the years, some
understanding of the value
helped researchers gather
treatments have been taken
of early-stage research. Even
the evidence needed to
forward by biotechnology and
a small contribution at the
apply for major grants and
pharmaceutical companies,
beginning of a project can
attract commercial interest.
moving closer to becoming
have a big impact.”
