Our story
Over the past 40 years, Sight Research UK has grown from one man’s earnest endeavour to save sight into one of the country’s leading charities funding eye research.
Beginnings
1980s
Charity founded
1986Sight Research UK is founded in 1986 by Professor David Easty MD FRCS, initially named the ‘National Eye Research Centre,’ or ‘NERC’.
Charity funds first ever Corneal Transplant Service
1986
Corneal Transplant Service sees phenomenal success
1990s
Funding corneal research
1999In 1999, Sight Research UK still focuses on funding research into the causes and treatments of eye disease, with a specific emphasis on corneal conditions, in line with our Bristol-based origins.
We began a long-term project to understand the rejection process for corneal transplants. As part of this, we funded data collection of over 1,000 patients who had undergone surgery. For 5 years, patients were monitored to consider the post-surgical implications to improve future success rates and reduce risks of corneal rejections.
Charity expansion
2000s
Royal Patron opens new eye research laboratories
2003Charity receives significant grant to boost research
2006Sight Research UK (formerly NERC) receives an award of £255,000 from Bristol-based charity, the James Tudor Foundation, to fund research into the causes of eye diseases and the prevention of blindness.
Evolution
2010s200 years of the Bristol Eye Hospital
2010
Charity launches manifesto at Westminster
2015Ophthalmic surgeons and eye health stakeholders, as well as charity and industry representatives gathered at Westminster for the launch of a new manifesto from Sight Research UK (formerly NERC).
We launched our ‘inSIGHTS to a healthy future‘ manifesto urging the government to review several key points to avoid the imminent crisis facing underfunding in eye research.
30th birthday
2016Charity reborn as Sight Research UK
2019In 2019, the National Eye Research Centre (NERC) is in the final stages of transitioning to its new name, which is of course, Sight Research UK!
Establishment
2020sCharity founder passes away
2021
Sight Research UK's Translational Award launch
2022Hello to our new CEO
2024Lucy Culkin joins Sight Research UK as our Chief Executive in December 2024, bringing her 25 years of experience and expertise to the charity.
It's nearly our 40th birthday!
2026On 12 February 2026, we will be celebrating 40 years of pioneering eye research as a charity.
We have invested nearly £18 million in research projects
Since we were founded, we have invested nearly £18 million in research projects that bring scientists ever closer to answering some of the most fundamental questions about eye health and how sight loss develops.
