Investigating the correlations between phenotypic variations of patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and uveitis

Working in a collaborative project with Aberystwyth University investigating the correlations between phenotypic variations of patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and uveitis along with specific aspects of their microbiome and metabolomics profiles

I would divide my time in two main parts, A and B.

PART A (for 80 percent of my time):
I will be actively working in a collaborative project with Aberystwyth University (with Professor Luis Mur) investigating the correlations between phenotypic variations of patients with wet age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and uveitis along with specific aspects of their microbiome and metabolomics profiles. We are planning to set up more than one research trial looking into the different aspects of such profiles and how they can be linked to disease activity and interpersonal variations in clinical response to treatments, eventually establishing new biomarkers. This is a new chapter of research for me which I find extremely exciting.

With the time given I am planning to design studies, develop specific protocols for each subcategory investigated (based on current research evidence), prepare IRAS applications, collect and analyse data as well as present and distribute the results of the research by writing manuscripts and presenting at conferences. All the above has already been discussed with the research groups including eminent professors in Ophthalmology and microbiome/metabolomic research with huge experience. Professor Dick from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and Bristol Eye Hospital will act as a mentor for me. Professor Mur and Dick are experts in their fields of research which focuses on the above area. I will be guided by their expertise into best implementation of the projects and best use of resources and time.

We will also be involving other doctors and students to make the project implementation realistic. We have discussed the possibility of an MSc student and I have discussed the potential of collaboration with other members of my clinical team to help collect data and make projects viable given the large geographic distribution of the patient population in Hywel Dda. In addition to the above, I am looking into possibilities to try to link anonymised data from Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans (these scans are retinal scans that provide lots of useful measurements) with the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank in Swansea University, which could be further linked to microbiome and metabolomic profiles. 

PART B (for 20 per cent of my time):
I will further use my time to expand the commercial clinical trials portfolio at Hywel Dda. This will raise the profile of the health board which will attract new medical staff and clinical fellows to help our on-going recruitment issues. As I attend national and international conferences, research will be presented there to further raise the profile of the health board. I am also the clinical lead in a new intravitreal therapy accreditation training programme for non-medical injectors. I have recently converted the health board from doctor administered eye injections to nurse administered eye injections. I personally trained all the nurse injectors and signed them off as competent. This has been incredibly successful and we are now applying for a grant to develop an approved and accredited training programme.