Professor Chris Whitty highlights “ambitious research agenda” of planned ophthalmic research institute

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, has visited the University of Sunderland to learn more about plans for the Northern Ophthalmic Research and Innovation Institute (NORI).

The £4.2 million institute will be based at the University of Sunderland and have close ties with the Sunderland Specialist Eye Hospital, which is scheduled to open later in the summer.

A statement from the university highlighted that NORI would bring together eye scan data and broader health information to enable earlier diagnosis and more personalised care for people in the North East and beyond.

Co-director of NORI, Professor Matthew Campbell, noted that Whitty’s visit highlights the national significance of the work being undertaken at NORI.

“NORI was created with a bold ambition: to transform how we understand and use the eye as a gateway to earlier diagnosis, personalised intervention and healthier ageing,” he said.

“Working alongside our partners, we are creating a globally distinctive innovation ecosystem that has the potential to place the North East at the forefront of prevention, early detection and data-enabled healthcare,” Campbell emphasised.

Whitty said that he was “delighted” to have the opportunity to learn more about NORI’s research programme.

“Meeting the team, I was struck by the strength of the cross-sector partnerships, and the shared vision, that makes this research possible. I look forward to following NORI’s progress as they advance their ambitious research agenda,” he said.

The formal launch of NORI is planned for later this year.