Moorfields Eye Charity launches its impact report showing that it has grown to become the leading charity in the UK funding research into eye health and innovation and improvement in patient care. The charity awarded grants worth almost £50 million over the past six years. This report gives insights into how the charity’s support of advances in research and innovation is benefitting patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital and people with sight loss in the UK and globally.
Read Moorfields Eye Charity’s impact report on their website.
The charity supports the partnership of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. Research and innovation at Moorfields and UCL is improving patient care by the development of new treatments safely and quickly. This collaborative approach will reach even more people in the new centre for advancing eye health now under construction and opening in St Pancras, Camden, in 2027. The charity is a partner with Moorfields and UCL in the project. Philanthropy is vital to making the new centre possible.
Maisie, patient at Moorfields.
The impact report highlights the charity’s achievements over six years of strategic plans from 2018 to 2024. The charity awarded 342 grants during this time. The report focuses this year on the funding of gene therapies which are preventing people losing their sight from inherited eye disease, and treatments for myopia which is currently affecting 30% of the world’s population and forecast to rise to 50% by 2050. It includes profiles of patients and supporters.
The launch of the report coincides with the stepping down of Moorfields Eye Charity’s chair of trustees Mervyn Walker after nearly nine years of service. Mervyn has been critical in setting the charity’s strategic direction. Under his leadership, the charity in partnership with UCL has secured commitments of £72.75 million for the new eye health centre.
Dr Louise Wood CBE takes over as chair in July 2024. Louise brings experience of policy-making, strategic leadership and partnerships. She has worked at national and international levels for over 30 years in organisations dedicated to excellence in research and innovation.
Robert Dufton, chief executive at Moorfields Eye Charity said: “Thank you to everyone who supports the charity and thank you to Mervyn for his leadership as chair of the charity. Together we’re pushing forward research and innovation at Moorfields and UCL. Mervyn has been a driving force in shaping our strategy and helping us achieve our philanthropic growth. His commitment, passion and belief in our work has made a huge difference to people with eye conditions through the work of Moorfields and UCL. He will be greatly missed.”
Mervyn Walker, Chair, Moorfields Eye Charity.
Mervyn Walker, chair of trustees at Moorfields Eye Charity said: “I’m very proud to have been chair of Moorfields Eye Charity at a time of growth making it the leading charity for eye health it is today. It’s been a privilege to be part of major developments in the charity’s grant-making and fundraising including the philanthropy campaign for the new eye health centre. The charity will continue to increase the scale and scope of its support and its partnerships to meet the ambitious plans of the charity, Moorfields and UCL for the years ahead.”
Laura Wade-Gery, chair at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “Moorfields is really grateful for Mervyn’s leadership and guidance not only to Moorfields Eye Charity, but to the trust itself. His guidance has been crucial to supporting our organisations in the process of funding and moving to our new centre for eye care, research and education in St Pancras. We thank him for everything he’s done, and look forward to working with Louise.”
Alan Thompson, UCL's pro provost for London and dean of the UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences said: “UCL’s partnership with Moorfields Eye Charity is enabling us to drive forward scientific advancements that are transforming the future of eye health and delivering real benefits for patients. Mervyn’s vision has been key to the success of Oriel, our world-leading centre of excellence for eye health that will open in 2027. Mervyn has been instrumental in steering this project and under his leadership our ambitious plans for this new centre are taking shape.”
