Dr. Robert Maclaren

Biography

Robert MacLaren is a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford and works as a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Oxford Eye Hospital. He is also an Honorary Professor of Ophthalmology at the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and an Honorary Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He is a National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator and a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, American College of Surgeons, Academy of Medical Sciences, and King James IV Professor of Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. MacLaren has received several awards, including the ARVO Camras Award for Translational Research and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists Keeler Medal. He co-founded Nightstar Therapeutics in 2014, which aims to expand retinal gene therapy, and led the company through its listing on NASDAQ in 2017 and subsequent acquisition by Biogen in 2019. In 2023, he co-founded Beacon Therapeutics, achieving significant fundraising for retinal gene therapy. His research focuses on new treatments for blindness, particularly for patients with incurable retinal diseases, utilizing stem cell-based approaches and gene therapy techniques. He has led several clinical trials and published extensively in notable journals, contributing to advancements in treating retinal diseases.

Research Interests

Experience