A cake sale will be held today, Monday 8 July, from 1-2pm on the balcony in the Atrium in B37. All funds raised go to The Gift of Sight Appeal, a charity managed by the University.
The Gift of Sight Appeal is a registered charity which was established with the aim of funding world-class research into the prevention and treatment of blindness. The Gift of Sight Eye Research Centre is based at Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire and the charity is managed in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Southampton. The main areas of research are age related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and childhood conditions such as nystagmus.
University of Southampton researchers supported by Gift of Sight combine laboratory research with treating patients in weekly clinics. This enables them to bring insights from the research laboratory directly to patients, many of whom in turn are firm and loyal supporters of the Appeal. Currently they have collected DNA samples on over 700 patients with age related macular degeneration, 600 DNA samples from glaucoma patients and several hundred DNA samples from patients with inherited retinal diseases or nystagmus. These sample collections allow them to identify genetic risk factors for eye disease which enables us to determine better treatments for affected patients. In addition we are involved in multiple clinical trials particularly for age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Since 2004 the combined research efforts of Gift of Sight and colleagues around the world have resulted in a significant number of patients with wet AMD now having treatment that brings a significant improvement to their sight. Patients across the UK can drive, read and go out independently again. For more information on the charity go to http://www.giftofsight.org.uk/gosappeal.html