Creating the future in sight: Annual Review 2025
This year’s Annual Review ‘Creating the future in sight’ reflects on the past 30 years of CERA’s research, while looking forward to the treatments within reach that will protect vision for more people than ever before.
In this year’s message to supporters, Board Chair Duncan Peppercorn and Managing Director Professor Keith Martin reflect on what has changed in 30 years of CERA, and what the future holds:
“As CERA gets set to celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2026, the theme of our 2025 Annual Review is Creating the future in sight, showcasing the advances of our research teams over the previous 12 months and also our relentless focus on the future.
“Building on the legacy of our founder, Laureate Emeritus Professor Hugh Taylor AC, everyone at CERA remains determined to make a difference.
“We do not accept that vision loss and blindness are inevitable – whether it is the result of ageing, genetics or poor access to eye care.
“We will not accept the status quo if there is an opportunity to drive our research towards breakthroughs that prevent vision loss and restore sight.”
30 years of transformation
“As Professor Taylor explains in his generous introduction, eye care today is completely different from 30 years ago, and 30 years from now it will be different again.
“Technology has transformed vision research – and with it our ability to make what was once considered impossible possible.
“You will see many examples of how we are harnessing these cutting-edge technologies in our 2025 Annual Review including:
- Powerful imaging that allows us to view the eye in unprecedented detail, discover new structures and observe previously unknown interactions between nerves and cells – providing new clues about eye and brain conditions including glaucoma, stroke and dementia
- Cellular reprogramming technology that is moving one step closer to bringing a potential new treatment for retinitis pigmentosa to a first-in-human trial
- Advanced genomic sequencing which has underpinned a critical new discovery into the most high-risk forms of macular degeneration
- Gene engineering technologies – including CRISPR editing and advanced vector manufacture – which enable us to develop new gene therapies for incurable inherited retinal diseases including Usher syndrome and Stargardt’s disease
- Artificial intelligence to speed up the detection of diabetic eye disease and bring screening technologies to more people in underserved communities.
You can read the full Chair and Managing Director’s message and more about our research in Creating the future in sight: Annual Review 2025 (PDF), reading individual stories via the links below, or access an audio version (MP3).
