Scientists, supporters, and community leaders came together to reflect on four decades of Sight Research UK’s vision-saving work and look ahead to a bright future.
Leading eye charity Sight Research UK celebrated its 40 years anniversary at Merchants’ Hall in Bristol on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, uniting a network of researchers and supporters to commemorate four decades of pioneering research into preventing and treating sight loss.
Over the past five years, Sight Research UK has invested more than £2.4 million into 48 research projects across the country. The celebration showcased Sight Research UK’s impact and influence within the ophthalmology sector, acknowledging the people who made that possible. The event highlighted the charity’s achievements since its founding in 1986 by pioneering ophthalmologist Professor David Easty. During his distinguished career at Bristol Eye Hospital, Professor Easty became a leading figure in ophthalmology and established the charity to accelerate research into sight-threatening conditions.
Welcomes from the Chair of Trustees, Carol Mayo, and the Chief Executive Officer, Lucy Culkin, honoured the charity’s history and achievements. Lucy explained,
“Today is about much more than commemorating 40 years of Sight Research UK; it’s a milestone for us to celebrate the lives changed through research, partnerships, and community. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the incredible legacy of our founder, Professor David Easty and thank everyone who has supported us over the years. We are also delighted to publicly launch our Research Strategy 2026–2031.”
Over 70 people attended the event, which featured guest speakers including Tricia Sail, winner of BBC’s Race Across the World Season 3, and Saaeha Rauz, Professor of Translational Ophthalmology at the University of Birmingham. Some of the charity’s funded researchers from across the country publicly presented their projects to guests, among whom key figures included Bristol City’s Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff, and Lord Mayor. There was also a cake cutting to officially commemorate the occasion, which was carried out with the Lord-Lieutenant’s ceremonial sword.
“It was a privilege to join Sight Research UK in celebrating this important milestone. Marking 40 years is a fitting tribute to the organisation’s sustained commitment to advancing research and improving the lives of people affected by sight loss. Its work is an inspiring example of the valuable contribution charities and researchers continue to make to society, both in Bristol and nationally.”
High Sheriff for City and Country of Bristol, Anne Nisbet, said:
“For 40 years, Sight Research UK has played an important role in advancing research that offers hope to people affected by sight loss. It is a privilege to join supporters, researchers and community leaders in celebrating this milestone and recognising the charity’s lasting contribution, both here in Bristol and across the UK. The strength of support shown at today’s event reflects the value people place on improving lives through research and innovation.”
“Bristol can be proud of the contribution Sight Research UK has made to advance eye research and improve the lives of people living with sight loss. As a charity that began in this city in 1986 but has since grown to have national influence, that is an achievement our community has come together to recognise today.”
The charity is looking firmly to the future through its new Research Strategy 2026–2031, which outlines its expansion of grant programmes at both seed and translational levels for UK-based researchers and clinicians so that investments can accelerate patient impact. With continued support from researchers, donors, and partners, Sight Research UK aims to drive forward life-changing discoveries that offer hope to people affected by sight loss across the country.
About the Research Strategy 2026 – 2031
Sight Research UK will continue to prioritise and expand its seed and translational funding, enabling downstream investment and accelerating future patient impact. In the future, larger partnership grants will allow us to support strategically significant projects with strong potential to progress into innovative solutions. The strategy introduces a new Translational Research Award for Translational Research levels 3 and 4 for an award up to £150,000 in addition to the Translational Research Awards at levels 5, 6 and 7 for up to £250,000 already offered. In addition, it will deliver two Seed Award rounds per year for grants up to £15,000 to support early-stage eye research for UK-based researchers and clinicians. Until now, it has offered one per year.
