NICRN (Vision)

The Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN) undertakes vision research throughout Northern Ireland. The NICRN is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

The NICRN aims to:

• promote ophthalmic research within Northern Ireland;
• attract clinical trials in ophthamology to Northern Ireland;
• conduct clinical trials across Northern Ireland to the highest standards of quality and safety;
• provide infrastructure to facilitate the start-up of new trials in ophthalmic disease;
• improve access for ophthalmic patients to new cutting-edge treatments.

Areas of interest include the following:

•  Providing access to novel therapies through partnership with the commercial sector.
•  Evaluation of the mechanisms behind diseases of the eye such as age-related macular degeneration.
•  The genetics of inherited retinal dystrophies.
•  Trials of novel therapeutics for age-related macular degeneration.