Glaucoma UK hosts inaugural research showcase

Glaucoma UK hosted its first research showcase on 13 March 2025 in London, alongside its AGM and Annual Lectures. The event connected researchers funded in the financial year ending July 2024 with members, supporters, staff, and trustees. Read on to learn more. This article was originally written by Joanna Hodgkinson, Head of Research.

Glaucoma UK is excited to present its first-ever inaugural research showcase in London.

One of the key activities of Glaucoma UK is to fund high-quality research into all aspects of glaucoma care and treatment. We want that research to improve the lives of people living with glaucoma. As the charity for people living with glaucoma, we have a crucial role to play in increasing the engagement between the scientists and clinicians carrying out the research, and the patients who could benefit from it. We also want people who so generously donate to the charity to understand how we spend their money and the difference this could make.

On that basis, we hosted our first-ever research showcase on 13 March 2025 in London. In addition to our AGM and Annual Lectures, we brought together the researchers we funded in the financial year ending July 2024, with the charity’s members, supporters, staff and trustees. The speakers were:

• Matt Roney, optometrist at St Paul’s Eye Unit at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He received £50,000 through the 2023 Open Call Grant for his project titled “The GHOST Study – Evaluation of ocular structure and vascularity after glaucoma filtration surgery using Optical Coherence Tomography.”
• Rachael Finch, optometrist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. She is working with consultant optometrist Dr Patrick Gunn, on their project titled “Minimising the implementation gap in management of narrow angle glaucoma suspects through education and technology”. They received just under £50,000 through the 2023 UKEGS grant.
• Dr Sophie Coyle, post-doctoral researcher at Ulster University. She is working with Dr Victoria McGilligan on their project titled “A novel bispecific antibody therapy targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome for glaucoma”, which was awarded just under £100,000 through the 2024 joint grant with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
• Dr Ben Hewitt, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Birmingham. He is a part of Dr Lisa Hill’s group, working on a project titled “Modulating the matrix: a new eye drop therapy for primary open angle glaucoma”, which was also awarded just under £100,000 through the joint grant with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

Each of the speakers gave a brief introduction to their research projects and what they’re hoping to achieve. It was a wonderful way for our members and supporters to understand more about the projects and bring the research to life by meeting the people behind the project.

Matt Roney commented “It was a great honour and pleasure to speak at the 2025 Glaucoma UK Research Showcase, and to describe our project directly to people with glaucoma. The research showcase was a unique occasion to bring different groups within the glaucoma community together, demonstrating the valuable research that is being funded by Glaucoma UK, and thanking everyone who donates to support this exceptional work.”

Joanna Hodgkinson, Head of Research at Glaucoma UK said “I’m so pleased our audience at the showcase enjoyed it. It’s so important that people learn more about the research we’re funding – we want them to feel hope regarding their glaucoma, to understand how the charity is spending the precious donations we receive, and to feel engaged in the research we fund. Thank you to everyone who joined us – I hope to see you at future showcases!”

Julian Exeter, member of Glaucoma UK and former trustee, told us, “Providing financial support for research into glaucoma has long been a major activity for Glaucoma UK and has been well supported by the Membership over the years.  The recent Research Showcase at the AGM was a most useful way of providing the Membership with more information about the research grants awarded over the past year, providing the opportunity for the researchers to briefly explain the aims and rationale of their respective research projects. Hopefully, this will be followed up by occasional reports in future editions of ‘Insight” as these projects progress.”

Glaucoma UK would like to thank everyone who attended our showcase and so generously supports this important work.

Glaucoma UK is reliant on the generosity of our donors, whose support makes this research possible. Much of the funding is thanks to gifts left in wills. If you’d like to help secure the future of glaucoma research, please consider leaving a legacy in your will or making a donation today.

To hear more about our research work and become part of our glaucoma community, join us as a member today – find out more here.