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Our BRC and the Friends of Moorfields team up for World Sight Day

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Image shows A group of four smiling people stand behind an information table at a Moorfields Eye Hospital event. The table displays leaflets, flyers, and a bowl of sweets. Behind them are banners from NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre promoting research participation and innovation in eye care. The wall features the Moorfields logo with the slogan “World leading experts in eye care,” and posters for “World Sight Day 2023.” The atmosphere is welcoming and professional. left to right Angela Smith, Robert Kwami,Sabina Uddin, and Minoo Razi
This year, World Sight Day’s theme: “Love Your Eyes,” had a broader message of putting “people at the heart of eye health”. The campaign, led by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), encourages the public to prioritise their own vision health through regular eye tests and support eye care initiatives for global communities in need.

The Patient and Public engagement team from NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) was invited by the Friends of Moorfields to the City Road Site for the day to talk to patients, staff and the public about the sight saving research taking place at the Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).  

Researcher Dr Minoo Razi from Prof Claire Futter’s Cell Biology Lab at the IoO attended to provide information on their work. Dr Razi is looking into Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and spoke about her work with the lysosome life cycle. The lysosome is a part of the cell that helps to clean biological waste at a cellular level.

“It was great to step outside the lab and microscope rooms and connect with people outside academia and explain my research.””

Dr. Minoo Razi
A healthcare professional in a navy uniform and a woman in a pink cardigan stand at a table discussing printed eye health materials. Both are pointing at a colorful eye anatomy diagram on the table. The table also has informational leaflets and a bowl of sweets. Behind them, a sign for Moorfields Eye Charity and a display titled “Moorfields nursing hall of fame” are visible. The setting appears to be a hospital or clinic corridor.

The team from our BRC we were invited to talk about the broad spectrum of innovations from our centre. We spoke about the work we do facilitating research and how we work with patients and the public.

Discussions focussed on our patient databases including Research Opportunities at Moorfields (ROAM) which is based within Moorfields Eye Hospital and is accessed by researchers. ROAM is an excellent opportunity for Moorfields patients to help research into their conditions.

The NIHR and its Be Part of Research campaign was also championed and information was provided on how to volunteer to support research

We spoke about the NIHR BioResource programmes Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) and DNA, Children + Young People’s Health Resource(D-CYPHR). IBHO is looking to redress the balance within the medical research world so that there is good representation from the black community and research is relevant to all people. D- CYPHR is a similar database which encourages children to join, with the help of their parents. In both cases a simple genetic sample, saliva or blood, is taken and a simple questionnaire completed aiding research into all sorts of conditions that happen across the whole of the population.

We were there invited by the Friends of Moorfields – a charity based within Moorfields who support people with eye conditions and blindness through their lives by signposting to help, services, technology and community support. Sabina Uddin the Health Hub manager said it was… “Great to host the PPIE community again at this years World Sight Day! A really valuable and informative event for patients and staff, allowing for stimulating discussions around occular health research.”

We enjoyed spending the time with their knowledgeable team.

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