Graeme Black is Professor of Genetics and Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. During training, he undertook at DPhil (PhD) at the University of Oxford, studying the genetics of ophthalmic disease – a period that enabled him to develop his combined subspecialty interests. Having moved to Manchester in 1995, Graeme was a Welcome Trust Clinician Scientist, and then Senior Research, Fellow. He was the director of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (2009-2012), director of the Manchester Institute of Human Development (2012-2014) and strategic director of the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine (MCGM 2014-2018).
With the advent of new technologies, insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms has become accessible for inherited eye disease, providing earlier and more precise diagnosis, improving management and raising the possibility of new therapeutic approaches. The translation of such discoveries into improved healthcare provision is a major motivation; since 2004, the Manchester team has delivered molecular testing for an expanding portfolio of conditions including retinoblastoma, XLRP and most recently utilised next generation sequencing to deliver improved diagnosis for inherited retinal dystrophies and developmental eye disorders.
Graeme has worked closely with patients and patient groups to undertake health economic & qualitative healthcare research aimed at the delivery of innovative genomic strategies leading to the improvement of patient management.