Name

Robert E MacLaren

Area(s) of specialism/subspecialism

Retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic eye disease, complex cataract surgery, macular holes and genetics. For detailed information, please see: publications

Year of first medical qualification

1990 MB ChB

Location of initial medical training

University of Edinburgh (Wallace Prize recipient), with further undergraduate ophthalmology training at Yale University USA and PhD thesis at the University of Oxford

Location of ophthalmology training

Royal Berkshire Hospital Reading, Radcliffe Infirmary Oxford, Western Eye Hospital London, and Moorfields Eye Hospital London

Further key experience

Chief Resident, Moorfields Eye Hospital 2001-03,
Fellow in Vitreoretinal Surgery, Moorfields 2003-04, Research Fellow in Medical Retina, Moorfields 2004-05

Date joined Moorfields

2001

Membership of professional/national/regional bodies

King James IV Professor of Surgery (first ophthalmologist to be appointed to this chair) and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons,
Member of the British and Eire Association of Vitreoretinal Surgeons, Member of Congregation of the University of Oxford, Former Member of Council and Director of the British Medical Association

Current NHS/university posts, whether full/part time, and starting year

Honorary Consultant (full time), Moorfields Eye Hospital since 2006
Honorary Consultant, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
Moorfields/UCL joint Biomedical Research Centre Theme Leader 2007-2012
Clinical Research Fellow, Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL
Lecturer in Human Anatomy (part time), Merton College, University Oxford

Other professional achievements

Academy of Medical Sciences/Health Foundation Principal Research Fellowship 2006, Diploma in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Oxford 2006,
Winner, Royal Society of Medicine Prize Meeting in Ophthalmology 2005, Winner of the Founder’s Cup and Medal, Oxford Ophthalmological Congress 2005, ARVO (USA) Gesine Mohn Award 2005, Winner of The Moorfields Research Medal 2005, Winner of the Alcon Audit Prize 2004, Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (on retinal regeneration) University of Oxford 1996

Languages spoken

English and German

Research interests

Age-related macular degeneration, stem cells, gene therapy, altitude retinopathy, intraocular lenses used in cataract surgery, retinitis pigmentosa and paediatric retinal diseases

Any other personal interests/background information that may be relevant

Former Surgeon Major to the Honourable Artillery Company and (locum) Surgeon Major to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Hyde Park, London (familiar with PULHHEEMS gradings). Lecturer on the Visual Perception of Art (Barbican Lecture Series) - “Why neurons prefer Vincent Van Gogh to Yves Klein”.

For more information on our research, please follow these links:

Institute of Ophthalmology

The MRC

New Scientist

BBC News

Radio 4

The Times

The Daily Telegraph