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Research originating from the Department of Genetics at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology hopes to treat devastating eye diseases that cause blindness.

UCL leads the field in advanced therapeutics research, aiming to provide therapies for serious conditions where treatments do not currently exist. One of our pioneers is Professor Robin Ali, an expert in cell and gene therapy for the eye. Professor Ali is Head of the Department of Genetics at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, part of the Faculty of Brain Sciences.

In 2015, Professor Ali and his team's research to treat inherited retinal diseases was spun out to form Athena Vision Limited. Athena Vision was then acquired in the formation of MeiraGTx, a clinical-stage gene therapy company. MeiraGTx pursues treatments, and potential cures, for diseases where there is a large unmet medical need.  

The work started by Athena Vision developed into MeiraGTx's ocular programme. MeiraGTx continues to benefit from affiliation with one of the world's foremost vision research centres at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and its partner Moorfields Eye Hospital.

MeiraGTx achieved $75 million at the close of its initial public offering on the NASDAQ in 2018. The business has also received investment from the UCL Technology Fund.

With four ongoing programmes for inherited retinal disorders, clinical trials are showing promising results.  

"With MeiraGTx, we have the necessary technology and critical mass to deliver a pipeline of novel therapeutics to change patients' lives," said Professor Ali.