Roly Megaw Research Group

Research in a Nutshell

Our work focuses on understanding the mechanisms that lead to sight loss in the inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). IRDs are a group of untreatable, blinding conditions caused by mutations (mis-spellings) in genes that are critical for the health of the light sensing photoreceptor cells at the back of our eyes. Mutations in these genes cause the photoreceptor cells to misfunction and then die and are the leading cause of sight loss in children and adults of working age. 

We run research projects that span from the bench to the bedside that aim to answer the following questions:

• How is a photoreceptor built and maintained and how does this go wrong in IRDs?
• Do cell pathway defects develop that are common to all IRDs, regardless of the gene involved, that could be targeted for therapy?
• Can we improve the detection rate of mutations in IRD patients?
• Can gene specific therapies successfully stop sight loss in IRD patients?

By studying the genes responsible for IRDs in the lab, using state-of-the-art imaging and big data experiments, we can gain valuable insight into how and why photoreceptors misfunction and die, with the long term goal of identifying treatments for these devastating diseases. 

• Professor Pleasantine Mill, The University of Edinburgh
• Professor Alex von Kriegsheim, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Yanick Crow, University of Edinburgh
• Dr Chloe Stanton, University of Edinburgh
• Professor Ian Ganley, University of Dundee
• Professor Mike Murphy, University of Cambridge
• Professor Alecia Gross, University of Alabama
• Professor Patricia Boya, University of Freiburg

• Wellcome Trust
• RetinaUK
• Macular Society
• Fight for Sight
• Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh)