Scientific Advisors

Prof. Susan Downes, MBChB, MSc, MD, FRCOphth is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals University Trust (in post since 2000)  and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and specialises in retinal disorders. She completed a post-residency Medical Retina fellowship and a Medical Doctorate in inherited retinal degeneration at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology and an MSc in Human Genomics in 2018. She is Lead for the Age Related Macular disease, and the Retinal Genetics service at the Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Ophthalmology Lead for the Thames Valley and South Midlands for the national Ophthalmology Clinical Research Network.  Her specialist retinal interests both clinically and in research include inherited retinal dystrophies, age-related macular degeneration, macular diseases including central serous chorioretinopathy, retinal

telangiectasia, and toxic retinopathies.

Prof. Alexander Foss , MA, BM, BCh, MRCP, FRCOphth, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Honorary Professor, University of Nottingham, and Consultant Ophthalmologist at The Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.  Following his training at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Alex was appointed as an oculoplastic surgeon in 1997 and has gone on to lead the Hospital’s medical retinal service.  Alex’s research interests centre on age related macular degeneration, in relation to which, he was the lead investigator on the TANDEM trial which looked at different review frequency and dose in the use of avastin, for the Treatment of AMD. Until 2018 he was also a member of the NICE committee that generated the national guidelines for the management of AMD (NICE NG82).  Alex also has research interests in mathematical modelling and the use of virtual reality in the treatment of amblyopia. 

Mr. Sergio Pagliarini MD Hons (It), FRCSEd(Ophth), FRCOpth is a Consultant Ophthalmologist  at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire where he conceptualised and opened a state-of-the-art Macular Unit in 2011 at the Hospital of St. Cross, Rugby. Sergio graduated with honours in medicine and obtained his specialist certificate in Ophthalmology in Italy. He then spent two years of clinical and research fellowships in Medical Retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital focusing on age-related macular degeneration research. Sergio practices all aspects of ophthalmology with a specialist interest in diagnostic imaging, macular degeneration, treatment of  retinal diseases and microincision cataract surgery. He has received several clinical excellence awards. He was nominated for Macular Society Clinical Services National Awards in 2001, 2012 and 2013.