High Resolution Retinal Imaging. (360G-Wellcome-099173_Z_12_Z)

Retinal imaging in patients and animal models of retinal dysfunction advances our understanding of diseases affecting vision and provides a window to the brain to study degenerative central nervous system disease. We request funding to obtain five cutting-edge retinal imaging devices that can visualise cellular and subcellular structures and dynamic processes in living retinal cells ex vivo and permit non-invasive high resolution in vivo imaging at single cell resolution in patients and small an imal models. Each of these devices offers new and unprecedented research opportunities due to recent advances in imaging technology. When combined into a single platform, these devices will afford capability not previously available in the UK and significantly enhance a wide variety of Wellcome Trust-funded fundamental, translational and clinical research programmes. The key objectives of the proposal are therefore to establish high resolution retinal imaging i) in patients to facilitate world-l eading research in retinal disease and therapeutics; ii) in animal models to elucidate disease processes and identify novel therapeutic targets; and iii) in living cells to investigate disease mechanisms. Achieving these objectives will add value to currently funded Wellcome Trust research programmes aimed at understanding the brain and retina and identify new therapeutic strategies.