Dr. Fabiana D’Esposito is a specialist in the study and management of inherited eye
diseases, including diagnosis, phenotype–genotype correlations, and molecular
characterisation. She is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College, Visiting Professor at the University of Naples (Italy) "Federico II", and Honorary Lecturer at Kore University of Enna (Italy).
Dr. D’Esposito earned her medical degree Summa cum Laude and completed her training in Ophthalmology (Summa cum Laude) at the University of
Naples “Federico II”, Italy. She completed her PhD at the Institute of
Ophthalmology, Department of Molecular Genetics (UCL), London, UK, and served
as a Post-doctoral Research Assistant in the Department of Molecular Genetics,
School of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK. She has also held positions
as the Coordinator of the Ophthalmic Genetics Section at CEINGE-Advanced
Biotechnologies Institute, Naples (qualification by the Italian Ministry of
Research and University as “Expert Researcher”) and Visiting Professor at
the Training School in Ophthalmology at the University of Salerno, Italy. Dr. D’Esposito is a Faculty Member of the European School of Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO), Board Member of the Italian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (SIOPS), and on the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Philip Anthony
Bloom is a Professor at Imperial College London with clinical interests in
glaucoma and cataract. He graduated from Bristol University in 1984 and
received his training at Bristol, the Western Eye Hospital, and Moorfields Eye
Hospital. Dr. Bloom holds several leadership positions, including President of
the UK & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS),
Chairman of the International Glaucoma Association (IGA), Trustee and Board
Member of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), Council Member and Past
President of the RSM Ophthalmology Section, and a Keeler Scholarship Board
Trustee (Royal College of Ophthalmologists). His clinical and research
interests include minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (including glaucoma laser
treatments), neuroprotection, surgical simulation/training, and spectacle
independence after cataract surgery.
Professor Maria
Francesca Cordeiro is a clinician-scientist, Chair of Ophthalmology at Imperial
College London, University College London (UCL), professor of glaucoma and
retinal neurodegeneration, honorary consultant ophthalmologist, and research
lead and director of the clinical trials unit at the Western Eye Hospital,
London. She qualified in medicine from St Bartholomew’s Hospital University of
London and completed training in general and surgical ophthalmology at
Moorfields Eye and St Thomas’ hospitals in London in 2003, following her PhD at
UCL in 1998. Her research is focused on the molecular mechanisms involved in
either the treatment or pathogenesis of retinal neurodegenerative diseases,
including glaucoma, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes. She has received
several international awards, including the Lewis Rudin Glaucoma Prize 2005
from the New York Academy of Medicine, the Research to Prevent Blindness
International Research Scholar Award USA 2015, and the GG2 Diversity Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Medicine 2017. She serves on various international
committees including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
(ARVO), European Vision Institute, Controversies in Ophthalmology (COphy),
European Glaucoma Society (EGS), EVICRnet, and the European Association for Vision
and Eye Research (EVER) and chairs the EGS Neuroprotection SIG.
Dr. Teresio
Avitabile is a Full Professor and Chairman at the Department of Ophthalmology,
University of Catania, Italy. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the
University of Bari in 1982. In 1986, he finished his general ophthalmology
residency at the same university. Prof. Avitabile served as the head of the
Retina and Ultrasonography Service of the Department of Ophthalmology at the
University of Catania from November 1986 to April 2005. He was nominated
Associate Professor in Ophthalmology in 2001 and later became a Full Professor
in Ophthalmology at the University of Catania in 2006. He also served as
Chairman of the Second Eye Clinic at the University of Catania from June 2005
to November 2012. Since November 2012, he has been the Chairman of both the First
and Second Eye Clinics at the University of Catania.
