Rate My Professor Andrew Lotery

Professor Andrew Lotery serves as the first University-appointed Chair of Ophthalmology and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southampton within the Faculty of Medicine. He qualified in medicine from Queen's University Belfast, earned an MD in molecular genetics from the same institution, and holds FRCOphth qualifications. After completing a fellowship in molecular ophthalmology and serving as assistant professor at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, he joined University Hospital Southampton as a consultant ophthalmologist in 2002. There, he established the Vision Science research department, led the development of the medical retinal service, and teaches medical students, junior ophthalmologists, and supervises PhD students. His career includes roles such as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Eye for ten years, Past Chair of the Scientific Committee, and current Honorary Secretary of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. He chairs the Macular Society Research Committee, serves as Specialist Lead for the NIHR Research Delivery Network, and established the University of Southampton Gift of Sight Appeal.

Professor Lotery's research specializations encompass ocular clinical trials, age-related macular degeneration, central serous chorioretinopathy, inherited retinal diseases, and gene therapy. He leads teams investigating the molecular basis of ophthalmic diseases and developing new therapies via clinical trials, stem cells, and retinal cell transplantation, with funding from the Wellcome Trust, NIHR, and eye research charities. Key publications include 'Association between the SERPING1 gene and age-related macular degeneration: a two-stage case-control study' (Lancet, 2008), 'Missense variations in the fibulin 5 gene and age-related macular degeneration' (New England Journal of Medicine, 2004), 'Biallelic variants in FSD1L cause retinitis pigmentosa with or without neurological involvement' (American Journal of Human Genetics, 2026), and 'Genetics and genetic testing for age-related macular degeneration' (Eye, 2018). His influence is evidenced by major awards such as two NIHR Senior Investigator awards (2016 and 2017), the Jesse Mole Medal from Retina UK (2019), Gold and Platinum ACCEA clinical excellence awards (2017 and 2021), the Nettleship Award, and recognition as one of the UK's top 100 doctors by The Times. He has delivered keynote lectures, including the Paul Henkind Memorial Lecture (2024), and contributed to national research advisory boards.