14 October 2026
University of Leicester researcher Callum Hunt has received the 2026 Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers (WCSM) Master’s Medal for a paper exploring the genetics of human foveal development.
The research, which was published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, is the first large genetic study of the shape of the human fovea.
Hunt and his colleagues applied artificial intelligence algorithms to the optical coherence tomography scans of 60,000 UK Biobank participants, analysing the depth of the fovea and cross-referencing this against the participants’ genetic profiles.
They identified 129 genes that are likely to be involved in foveal development.
The Master’s Medal was presented by outgoing WCSM master, Fiona Anderson, and the incoming master, David Baker, at a lunch on 30 September.
Baker highlighted that the Master’s Medal is highly competitive.
“2026 was no exception, but Callum’s research stood out. He and the team provide new insights into how the eye develops, give clinicians and researchers a clearer understanding of foveal hypoplasia, and lay a promising foundation for future work on diagnosis and treatment,” Baker shared.
“It is particularly pleasing to recognise work of this quality so early in a research career. Encouraging the next generation of eye health researchers is central to the company’s work, and we will follow Callum’s career with great interest,” Baker added.
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