Professor M Francesca Cordeiro

Her research is focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in either the treatment or pathogenesis of retinal neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

As Head of both Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG) and UCL Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegenerative Research Group, the aims of their work are to: provide innovative imaging tools (such as DARC) for the early diagnosis and identification of blinding conditions such as: glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, retinal detachment and macular degeneration; to offer meaningful endpoints and investigate novel therapeutic approaches in neuroprotection and sight-saving strategies in the eye; and to promote the eye as a window for the rest of the brain with particular reference to Alzheimer's disease. These are to be achieved using novel non-invasive techniques to assess structural and functional changes in different models of disease and their treatment, with a view to offering quick and effective translation to the clinical arena.

They are currently wrapping up work on DARC Phase II Clinical Trial, an open-label, non-randomised, single site, clinical trial of ANX776 in patients diagnosed with: Primary Open Angle Glaucoma/Glaucoma suspect/Ocular Hypertension (Glaucoma), Down’s syndrome (DS), Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), Optic Neuritis (ON) and Healthy subjects (Controls).

2012 - 2014
Wellcome Trust Translational Award (£1.5M), "A Phase 1 Clinical Trial of DARC"

2009 - 2012  
Wellcome Trust Translational Award (£2.5M) "A Phase 1 Clinical Trial of DARC"

2008 - 2011  
Wellcome Trust Healthcare Innovation Challenge Fund Grant (£218k), “Complete Polarization-sensitive cSLO”

2007 - 2013   
Various commercial translational projects (£1M)

2005 - 2008 
Wellcome Trust Healthcare Innovation Challenge Fund Grant (£225k), “A new window on cellular mechanisms of apoptosis”

2001 - 2007
Wellcome Trust University Award (£400k)