The Retina UK Annual Conference 2025 took place at the Holiday Inn London in London, UK, on 20 September and was hosted both in-person and online. The event included expert speakers, healthcare professionals, and patients with lived experience with retinal conditions. Retina UK is a charity that supports individuals with inherited sight loss and supports research towards advancements in the management of these conditions.
The conference commenced with an exploration of the 50 years of progress to date, entitled ‘From vision to reality: 50 years of progress’, given by Kathy Evans and Professor John Marshall. The charity celebrated its 50th anniversary, which was commemorated by the cutting of a cake by long-serving volunteers.
Following this exploration, the morning talks followed, including:
- ‘The journey so far: genes, machines, misses and marvels’ by Professor Michel Michaelides, highlighting the current understanding, his journey in the field and the promising outcomes of current work.
- ‘Restoring the retina: a project at the cutting edge of treatment research’ by Professor Jane Sowden, highlighting future advancements in the field of retina, including the creation of a photoreceptor patch in the retina and the utilisation of organoids in the form of ‘mini eyes’.
- ‘From bench to breakthrough: Biotech and inherited sight loss’ (including speakers from AAVantgarde, Octant, Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Sepul Bio and Beacon Therapeutics), exploring ongoing trials for different genetic variants.
- ‘Iterative innovation and accessible technology’ by Christopher Patnoe, shedding light on breakthrough technologies, such as real-time descriptions of surroundings and audible aids to support those with visual impairment.
The afternoon started with ‘Creating change together’ by James Clarke, before delving into a panel-style discussion from community members with lived experiences, covering topics of employment, sports and leisure, mobility and travel, and day-to-day living. The day concluded with a Q&A with the speakers of the day, made available for in-person delegates, and a Q&A was made available with Professor Julie Silvestri, as an ‘Ask the Expert’ session, for online delegates.
The Retina UK Annual Conference was an insightful and thought-provoking event, culminating scientific discussions on current understandings and advancements, trials and technologies, and lived experiences with the condition. The event cultivated meaningful discussions, and highlighted the important work being done by Retina UK.
