King’s Ophthalmology Research Unit (KORU)
The King’s Ophthalmology Research Unit (KORU) is based at King’s College Hospital, and led by Professor Tim Jackson.
Our research areas include three leading causes of sight loss:
- age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- glaucoma
- diabetic retinopathy
The team is at the forefront of several cutting-edge eye research trials. This includes a number of pioneering endeavours such as:
- retinal implants (bionic eyes)
- low-voltage x-ray therapy
- new treatments for submacular haemorrhage.
We run a large number of both investigator-initiated and commercial clinical trials, and lead large multicentre national and international randomised controlled trials.
Contact the team to find out more: [email protected]
Our research
Many of the treatments we rely on today would never have emerged without clinical trials. Our trials enable our patients to access cutting-edge treatments that will often not be available across the broader NHS for several years.
Our eye research unit leads some of the largest retinal clinical trials in the UK.
Current studies we are recruiting to
COMBAT
A study into managing rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Compares having cataract surgery and retinal detachment surgery together in one operation, to two separate operations to see which is most effective, safe, and better value.
DAME
Studies the treatment of severe diabetic macular oedema. Looks at whether adding gentle laser treatment once eye swelling improves (as well as standard injections) works as well as continuing injections alone.
EVERLAST
Compares early surgery with the standard “wait and see” approach for diabetics with bleeding inside the eye, to see which leads to better long-term vision.
EVERLAST – details for patients
GALAXY
Tests an eye injection meant to protect retina cells and slow the growth of vision-damaging “dead patches” in people with advanced dry AMD.
iSight 2
Tests a small device that delivers gentle electrical pulses (microcurrent stimulation therapy) through the eyelid to see if it can help slow vision loss in people with dry AMD.
iSight 2 – details for patients
IIH Intervention
Compares a fluid-draining shunt with a vein stent to protect vision in people with a brain-pressure condition called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).
IIH Intervention – details for patients
Light Touch
Tests whether skipping the usual loading injections when switching medicine to faricimab protects vision as well as the current treatment in people with pretreated neovascular AMD.
Light Touch – details for patients
NOVEL ERG HCQ
Tests whether two newer, easier eye devices can accurately catch retina damage from long-term hydroxychloroquine use.
NOVEL ERG HCQ – details for patients
THULITE
Tests whether a pill can treat diabetic eye swelling, instead of the repeated eye injections currently needed.
THULITE – details for patients
TIGER
An investigator-led trial for which Professor Tim Jackson is Chief Investigator. A €2m grant was awarded from Euretina and Fight for Sight to run this pan-European study.
It compares surgery and non-surgical treatment of sudden bleeding under the retina in people with wet AMD.
Recent studies that have closed to recruitment or are in follow-up
ARCHER II
Tests an eye injection drug aimed at protecting retinal cells and slowing the advanced “dry patches” stage of dry AMD (geographic atrophy).
CiFAR
Test a new pill (iptacopan) for a rare kidney disease (C3 glomerulopathy) caused by an overactive immune complement system.
GEM
Tests whether gasless surgery for repairing a macular hole works as effectively as the standard surgery that uses gas.
INSITE DME
Compares two ways of dosing faricimab injections when treating diabetic eye swelling – flexible (“treat and extend”) and fixed schedule.
NAMinG
Tests whether high-dose vitamin B3 can help protect the eye’s nerve cells and slow vision loss in glaucoma.
PORTAL
Long-term follow-up study checking the safety of an implanted eye device that slowly releases AMD medication, reducing how often patients need injections.
The team
The team includes consultants, research fellows, trial managers and clinical trial co-ordinators. They work together to promote and maintain ophthalmology clinical trial activities according to regulatory requirements.
Consultants
- Professor Tim Jackson, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
- Gerassimos Lascaratos, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
- Haralabos Eleftheriadis, Consultant Ophthalmologist
- Mohammed Abu-Bakra, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Glaucoma Surgeon
- James McHugh, Consultant Neuro Ophthalmologist
- Anna Grabowska, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon
- Obeda Kailani, Consultant Ophthalmologist Glaucoma Surgeon
Research staff
- Riti Desai, Ophthalmology Research Manager
- Noimot Timson, Clinical Research Practitioner
- Lisa Ramazzotto, Trial Manager
- Evangelos Kougiouris, Senior Clinical Trials Co-ordinator
- Damilola Ayemojuba, Clinical Trials Co-ordinator
- Stefan Dixon, Research Administrator
- Olivia Cundy, Clinical Research Fellow
- Benjamin Griffin, Clinical Research Fellow
- Nikhil Jain, Clinical Research Fellow
Contact us
If you would like to take part in ophthalmology research at King’s College Hospital, please contact the team at [email protected]