A new focus for optometry

A Consultant Ophthalmologist and expert in inherited eye disease has been appointed the new head of the University's School of Optometry and Vision Sciences.

As Head of School, Professor Marcela Votruba will oversee all of the School's research and teaching activities.

"Cardiff University's School of Optometry and Vision Sciences remains Wales' only centre providing Wales with the next generation of optometrists and helping to meet the professional training needs of the UK profession," said Professor Votruba.

"Our students remain in the top ten per cent of the profession and continue to benefit from some of the very best research-led teaching and high-tech facilities.

"It's my role to ensure this hard earned reputation for teaching and research excellence continues. I am delighted to be taking on this new and exciting challenge," she added.

Professor Votruba completed her academic and professional qualifications at the University of Oxford and University College, London before joining the University's School of Optometry and Vision Sciences as a Senior Lecturer in 2003.

She will continue to lead a team of scientists whose research aims to develop a deeper understanding of inherited eye disease.

As well as her research activities, Professor Votruba also teaches on the University's undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes and is a Consultant Ophthalmologist, running retinal and genetic eye clinics at the University Hospital of Wales.  

As Head of School, Professor Votruba hopes to provide a new focus for the School which brings teaching and research even closer together with the ultimate aim of translating research into new treatments.

"As well as continuing to improve our core business of training and developing the next generation of optometrists, I believe we can do much more to integrate our world-leading research for the benefits of patients," said Professor Votruba.

"Cardiff University has some areas of outstanding and world-leading research excellence. For example, in neuroscience where there is natural overlap with our research activities we must do more.

"Where there are areas where our research can be brought together for the benefit of patients I hope we can work with colleagues from across the University," she adds.