The Wolfson Foundation has recently awarded £5 million to University College London for Oriel, a new integrated eye hospital centre for advancing eye health.
Oriel is a joint initiative between Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Charity.
The grant is intended to help Oriel increase research in eye health with an aim to increase the speed of research breakthroughs, whilst helping to overcome eye healthcare inequalities. Researchers and clinicians from the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital will be brought together through the centre, providing an opportunity to work collaboratively in a shared learning space.
The purpose-built, integrated building will enable patients to participate in research and experience the best level of care to suit their needs. A cohort of researchers, clinicians, educators and innovators will have the chance to collaborate across multi-disciplinary teams; sharing different approaches and expertise alongside close partnership with patients.
Oriel will also create a new flexible learning space, ensuring practitioners stay have ongoing access to new technologies, simulations and imaging.
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “The longstanding partnership between UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital has created significant improvements in healthcare for eye patients not just in the UK, but throughout the world. By bringing clinicians and researchers together at Oriel, we believe the two institutions will create the ideal platform to generate further breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of eye disease. We are delighted to be funding a dedicated innovation space at the heart of the new building, designed to foster close collaboration between different teams of scientists.”
