About us

Dr. John Nolan, PhD, Director
Dr. Nolan is a senior scientist and Director of the Institute of Vision Research and the Macular Pigment Research Group, MPRG (www.wit.ie/mprg), and was the first scientist to conduct and complete his studies at the MPRG. His PhD study, entitled "Determinants of macular pigment in healthy subjects", was the largest cross-sectional study of its type in the world. Following his PhD studies on macular pigment, Dr. Nolan was awarded a Fulbright scholarship where he spent the 2005-2006 academic year working at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, USA, working with Professor Max Snodderly. In May 2010 he was awarded a Howard Fellowship by the Howard Foundation at Cambridge University, UK. He is a key opinion leader on the subject of macular pigment and AMD, and has been invited to speak at over 40 international scientific conferences and has published over 30 scientific peer reviewed publications on the topic. Dr. Nolan is a proud Tipperary hurling supporter (All Ireland Champions 2010) and he enjoys middle and long distance running (PB Marathon 3:29:42, PB 10k 37:47, PB 5 mile 29:53, PB 5k 18:10).

Professor Stephen Beatty, MD, Director
Professor Beatty has been a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon since 2001, but has been involved in research into age-related macular degeneration (AMD) since 1998. He has a special interest in vitreo-retinal surgery, and has had published over 80 peer-reviewed publications. He is the Director of the Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG, www.wit.ie/mprg), the world’s leading research group into macular pigment. He is a key opinion leader on the subject of AMD and macular pigment, and has been invited to speak at over 15 international scientific conferences.

Laura Molloy, Clinical Nurse Specialist
Laura Molloy studied Physiology and Health Science in Cork Institute of Technology for two years and took a three year diploma in General Nursing through Waterford Institute of Technology, followed by a further year’s degree in University College Dublin. She started working with Mr Beatty in June 2005 in Maritana Gate, Waterford, as an Ophthalmic Technician. After five years of practice nursing in this specialist area she now works at the Institute of Eye Surgery and Vision Research, in Whitfield Clinic, Waterford, as Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Dr. James Loughman PhD FAOI, Senior Vision Scientist
James works within a research capacity at the Optometry Department at Dublin Institute of Technology. He is currently supervising numerous active research projects involving 9 postgraduate students and collaborating partners from Dublin Institute of Technology, Waterford Institute of Technology, University of Ulster (Coleraine), Universidade Lurio in Mozambique, The International Centre for Eyecare Education, the African Vision Research Institute and the University of Kwazulu Natal, all in South Africa. He is currently principal investigator for an Irish Aid funded 5-year initiative to address poverty and health complexes in Africa, through an innovative optometric training scheme (visit www.dit.ie/mozambique-eyecare for details). This initiative has led to his recent appointment as Honorary Research Fellow for the African Vision Research Institute in South Africa. James established and is director and National Chair of the Irish chapter of Optometry Giving Sight, the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error (URE).

Sarah Sabour-Pickett FAOI, Optometrist and Researcher
Sarah is a qualified Optometrist who graduated from Dublin Institute of Technology in June 2007. She worked as a full-time Optometrist for three years and is currently carrying out a study at the Institute of Eye Surgery, Whitfield Clinic, on the effect of anti-VEGF therapy on visual performance in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.

Eithne Connolly, Clinical Research Technician
Eithne Connolly started with the Institute of Vision Research in November 2009. She graduated from University College Cork with an honours degree in Environmental Earth Science.
Eithne is the clinical research technician at the Institute of Vision Research and is currently collecting research data for the Meso-zeaxanthin Ocular Supplementation Trials (MOST). The MOST trials are investigating the effect supplementation with the macular carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin) in preventing vision loss in patients with early stages of age-related macular degeneration.  Eithne is also responsible for the analysis of serum for all major studies at the Institute of Vision Research, and has recently published findings from her MSc studies on this topic in the scientific journal Current Eye Research.  These findings were also presented at the Retina 2009 Conference, organized by Fighting Blindness, Ireland.

Sarah O´Regan, Operations and Relationships Manager
Sarah studied on the South East Enterprise Platform Programme (SEEPP) 2009 – 2010 at the Waterford Institute of Technology and was awarded a diploma in Enterprise Development. From 2007 to 2008 she studied Langue et Culture Francaises at the University of Angers, France, and was awarded a Diplôme d'Université. She is currently working as Operations and Relationships Manager for the Institute of Vision Research. She is the point of contact for the organisation, and provides administration and co-ordination for research studies.