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Introducing

The Fellow

Dr. Emily J. Patterson, Ph.D.

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Dr. Emily J. Patterson is a Senior Vision Scientist at Occuity. Having recently secured a highly competitive Future Leaders Fellowship from UKRI, she now leads innovative research on myopia – a major global health concern. 

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Emily’s varied career trajectory, spanning both continents and disciplines, has enabled her to gain a wealth of specialised knowledge, skills, and practical experience. Throughout her fellowship, she will utilise her expertise on the eye, vision, and imaging to conduct holistic and comprehensive research on the mechanisms underlying eye growth. 

 

In addition to Emily’s impressive record of more than 20 scientific publications, she has also received international recognition through the receipt of several awards, grants, and conference invitations. She maintains an active commitment to the scientific community through leadership positions in the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and the Colour Group GB. 

Research Experience

Senior Research Scientist
Occuity

Feb 2023 – present

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  • UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London

  • Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust   

Mentors: Professors Alison Hardcastle and Michel Michaelides

Jul 2019 – Jan 2023

Senior Research Scientist

  • Advanced Ocular Imaging Program, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) 

Mentors: Professor Joseph Carroll

Oct 2014 – Jun 2019

Doctoral Student

  • Applied Vision Research Centre, City University of London 

Mentors: Professor John L. Barbur

Oct 2010 – Oct 2014

Publications

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31237654/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27447086/

The Host: 

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Occuity’s mission is to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people by creating revolutionary new screening and monitoring devices for some of humanity's greatest healthcare challenges, such as myopia, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. 


Occuity specialises in the development of non-invasive optical devices for disease screening and monitoring and is a leader in the burgeoning field of Oculomics – using the eye as a window on the health of the body. Focused on enhancing health understanding through the eye, the company is at the forefront of creating solutions that aid in early disease detection and improved disease management.


"We are immensely proud of Emily for securing this prestigious fellowship," said Dr. Dan Daly, CEO of Occuity. "Her project is groundbreaking and comes at a time when interest in myopia research is soaring. The potential impact of her work on both clinical practice and commercial innovation is enormous. No one has undertaken a study like hers before, and we are excited to support her in this pioneering endeavour.” 


Dr. Daly continued: “We are also incredibly proud to now have two Future Leaders Fellows in the business, with Dr. Alistair Bounds being our first. This demonstrates the calibre of talent we are attracting and the growing interest in Occuity and our work in oculomics."

The Funding:
Future Leaders Fellowship

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Future Leaders Fellowships are designed to support the most promising early-career researchers and innovators. The programme provides long-term funding and training to develop ambitious, transformative ideas, enabling researchers to transcend disciplinary boundaries and bridge the gap between academia and industry. Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UKRI, stated, "The fellows announced today demonstrate how these awards continue to drive excellence, and to shorten the distance from discovery to prosperity and public good."

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Sixty-eight of the most promising research leaders were funded £104 million in Round 8 to lead research into global issues and commercialise their innovations in the UK.


The application process is highly competitive, so much so that there is a fixed cap on the number of applicants who can apply from each academic institution. Even with the enforced cap, the scheme receives several hundred applications per round, and the success rate is less than one in five.


Emily was awarded £1.644 million over a period of 5 years, starting on 1st November 2024. Here are some examples of the feedback Emily received on her proposal:

 

Peer-reviewer feedback

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  • “outstanding track record and a skill set that is as deep as it is broad”

  • “high degree of maturity, good sense and realism”

  • “impressive level of innovation, knowledge and potential impact”

  • “high quality of the proposed research, which is at a level commensurate with grant applications from an established leader in myopia research”

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Average score = 89%

 

Panel feedback

  • “the proposal is excellent; it strongly meets the assessment criteria”

  • “the candidate is outstanding, with enthusiasm for mentees, clear leadership and will and potential to succeed”

 

Band A - These Candidates are judged to have addressed all of the assessment criteria and show evidence of the highest standards and obvious added value from a FLF award. They are a priority for investment.

 

The Advisory Board

Crucial to the success of the Mynamic Project is the support of a stellar Scientific Advisory Board. Emily has assembled a highly respected international team of advisors, comprising leading clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and patient representatives. Their and expertise has already been invaluable in shaping the development of this proposal. With a wealth of experience and combined experience spanning centuries, the Advisory Board will provide guidance to stay on track and make informed decisions, even in the face of challenges or the need for strategy adjustments.

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  • Prof Mark Bullimore: University of Houston (TX). Expertise in clinical aspects of myopia.

  • Prof Joseph Carroll: Medical College of Wisconsin. Expertise in high-resolution imaging.

  • Prof John Girkin: Durham University. Expertise in ophthalmic instrumentation.

  • Prof Alison Hardcastle: University College London. Expertise in molecular genetics.

  • Jason Higginbotham: Director of FYEye Ltd. Optometrist and Dispensing Optician.

  • Prof Anna Horwood: University of Reading. Expertise in accommodation in children.

  • Prof John Lawrenson: City, University of London. Expertise in experimental psychophysics.

  • Prof Philip Morgan: University of Manchester, Director of Eurolens Research.

  • Bhavin Shah: Founder of Central Vision Opticians. Multi-award-winning Optometrist.

  • Myopia Focus: Myopia awareness organisation.
     

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