Graeme Black

Overview

Professor and Honorary Consultant in Genetics and Ophthalmology, University of Manchester/Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Strategic Director; Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine.

Biography

Graeme is Professor of Genetics and Ophthalmology at Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. During training he undertook at DPhil with Professor Ian Craig in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford, studying the genetics of X-linked inherited ophthalmic disease. It was this period that enabled him to develop his combined subspecialty interests.

Having moved to Manchester in 1995 Graeme became a Wellcome Trust Clinician Scientist Fellow in 1997 and a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow in 2002. This enabled him to focus on functional analyses of recently identified genes, defining their role in normal development as well as in the disorders studied. Graeme was the director of the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a specialist centre in Genetics and Developmental Medicine, from 2009-2012. Graeme lead the BRC to develop an impressive track record of translating scientific breakthroughs into clinical practice.2012-14 Graeme was the inaugural director of the Institute of Human Development, within the Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences at The University of Manchester helping to bring together research in the areas of genetic medicine, specialist senses, diabetes & endocrinology, maternal and fetal health and paediatrics.

Graeme’s major research interest is the investigation of genetic disorders associated with visual disability. His overaching aims are to improve the diagnosis, management and treatment of such conditions. This work initially focused on the characterisation of genes and proteins underlying inherited developmental disorders such as anophthalmia, cataract and retinal degenerative disorders. However most recently Graeme has overseen a scientific team that provides genetic testing for inherited opthalmic disease. This includes retinoblastoma, the commonest ocular malignancy of childhood. Furthermore, through funding provided by the Department of Health and the British Retinitis Pigmentosa Society his team has developed a national genetic testing service for inherited retinal diseases. These include several forms of retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy as well as a number of macular dystrophies.