Research team
Helen Griffiths
Helen is a Research Technician and has worked in the Gift of Sight laboratory for seven years, making her the longest serving member of staff. Helen’s role in the research laboratory is to provide technical support to research projects, this includes DNA extraction from patient blood samples, managing and analysing sample data and screening for mutations in genes associated with blinding eye conditions.
Angela Cree
Angela is the Vision Research Manager and deals with the day-to-day administration of the laboratory and its staff. She organises training schedules for students, writes grant applications and assists with the research in the laboratory. A busy mother of three Angela likes to visit friends, eat out, research her family history and fit in some gardening and swimming. Angela is a member of the Gift of Sight Board and assists Ailsa at fundraising events.
Xiaoli Chen
Xiaoli has worked in the Gift of Sight laboratory for the past 2½ years as a Research Technician and has now achieved funding to enable her to continue her work as a PhD student. Her project will be entitled “Characterisation of Adult Ocular Stem Cells and their use in Regenerative Medicine”. Out of work Xiaoli enjoys playing badminton and travelling.
Jay Self
Dr Jay Self is finishing off his PhD with us and will also be returning to clinical work to finish his training as a clinical ophthalmologist. With two young children Jay has very little time for hobbies at present but enjoys sport. Jay is a member of the Gift of Sight Board and is willing to attend local schools to speak about both the Gift of Sight Appeal and careers in Ophthalmology.
Heather Thomson
Heather Thomson is a Post –Doctoral Research Fellow undertaking supervised research towards the culture of ocular stem cell types and development of retinal organotypic cultures. Heather obtained a Phd in Experimental Diabetes Research and a BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ulster prior to coming to Southampton. She enjoys going to the gym, travelling, shopping and attending music concerts.
Marie Nelson
Marie works through the Wellcome Trust as Senior Research Nurse to Professor Lotery. She joined him in October 2007 and coordinates his increasing amount of studies between the clinic and the laboratory.
A mother of two Marie still found time to undertake the Great South Run in 2008 and 2009 to raise funds for Gift of Sight.
Catrin Watkins
Catrin is a registered nurse who has worked in ophthalmology for three years, and joined Professor Lotery’s research team as a research nurse in September 2009. She is involved in the day-to-day co-ordination of some of the team’s clinical research trials, and collects samples for the laboratory genetics studies. Outside of the Eye Unit she enjoys being out in the countryside, music (playing the piano and clarinet), and being involved in local Church activities.
Trishna Das
Trishna has recently joined the team and will provide her details shortly.
Sam Khandhadia
Sam, who is a clinical ophthalmologist, will be evaluating whether liver transplants may actually protect against macular degeneration! His project will involve both laboratory work and working with liver transplant patients across the country. Out of work Sam runs a 5-a-side football team in Southampton.
Andrew Treharne
Andrew completed a Masters degree in Chemistry with Medicinal Sciences (MChem) at Southampton in 2008. He is now a PhD student working in both Chemistry and medicine and is investigating how to create polymer scaffolding for retinal stem cells. Out of work Andrew enjoys badminton and going to stand up comedy shows.