The Schroder Foundation and Family have donated £1 million to Moorfields Eye Charity towards the new centre for advancing eye health. The building is under construction and opening in 2027.
Oriel is a joint initiative between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity that will move services from City Road, Islington to a new, integrated centre in St Pancras, Camden. It will bring together world-leading experts to push the boundaries of eye research, delivering breakthrough treatments to the front line of patient care. Motivated by enhancing education, this generous gift will promote learning and collaborations for researchers, clinicians, trainees and students from all over the world.
Collaborative space, new centre for advancing eye health. Image: Arcadis.
Innovative education spaces within the new pioneering eye health centre are aligned with Moorfields' and UCL’s vision to lead globally in teaching on eye health. The flexible spaces are designed for both face-to-face and online learning. They enable seamless transitions for multiple uses and event sizes including hands-on skills practice, informal discussions, multi-disciplinary meetings and lectures. They are equipped with high-spec audio-visual technology and allow for immersive learning experiences. This gift will enable innovation and collaboration to flourish by integrating education, clinical practice and technology – creating a learning environment for the eye health experts of the future.
The gift from The Schroder Foundation and Family is in memory of the late Bruno Schroder (1933–2019) and reflects their interests in and support of education, collaboration and eye health. Philanthropy is critical to the delivery of the centre for advancing eye health and their generous gift will help create this world-class teaching environment, driving forward research and accelerating the discovery of new treatments to change the lives of people with sight loss.
Exterior view, new centre for advancing eye health. Image: Arcadis.
Robert Dufton, chief executive, Moorfields Eye Charity said: “Thanks to the support of forward-thinking philanthropists such as The Schroder Foundation and Family, experts at Moorfields Eye Hospital, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, across the UK and worldwide will benefit from this innovative learning environment within the new eye health centre – ultimately improving patient outcomes.”
Sheila Adam, chief nurse, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Thank you so much to The Schroder Foundation and Family for their generous gift which will enable teaching and sharing through a global network of educators and learners, in an environment which encourages excellence.”
The trustees of The Schroder Foundation and Family said: “We’re delighted to support education within this groundbreaking eye health centre in memory of Bruno Schroder. We hope these facilities will enhance education and collaboration, and through the sharing of new discoveries and breakthroughs benefit millions of people with sight loss worldwide.”
Lecture space, new centre for advancing eye health. Image: Arcadis.
The new education spaces will have an impact on students, clinicians, researchers and patients. Moorfields and UCL are committed to fostering lifelong learning and advancing eye health education for a diverse and inclusive community worldwide, now and in the future.
Construction continues at pace on the site of the new centre for advancing eye health and is expected to reach the highest level of the building, level 10, by the end of this year. The new centre is due to open in 2027.
Moorfields Eye Charity and UCL are working in partnership on a fundraising campaign to support Oriel, the joint partnership between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity.
