Francesca Cordeiro

Professor Francesca Cordeiro holds dual appointments as Professor of Retinal Neurodegeneration and Glaucoma Studies at University College London's Institute of Ophthalmology and Professor of Ophthalmology at Imperial College London. She serves as an Honorary Glaucoma Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Western Eye Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, where she directs the Clinical Trials Research Unit and chairs the Imperial College Ophthalmic Research Group (ICORG).

Professor Cordeiro earned her Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery from St Bartholomew's Hospital (1987), became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (1990), a Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (1992), and completed her PhD at University College London (1998). She finished her ophthalmology training at Moorfield's Eye & St Thomas' Hospitals in London in 2003.

Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms in retinal neurodegenerative diseases including glaucoma, Alzheimer's, and diabetic eye conditions. She heads the Glaucoma and Retinal Neurodegeneration Research Group at UCL, developing innovative diagnostic methods for early disease detection and novel therapeutic approaches. Her groundbreaking DARC (Detection of Apoptosing Retinal Cells) technology enables real-time imaging of retinal cell death, potentially revolutionizing early glaucoma diagnosis before vision loss occurs. Her work extends to exploring the eye as a 'window to the brain' for monitoring neurodegenerative processes in conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

Professor Cordeiro's extensive publication record demonstrates her leadership in applying advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and novel imaging techniques to ophthalmic research. Her work spans from microglia characterization in aging to microfluidic sensors in contact lenses for tear analysis, consistently focusing on translating laboratory findings to clinical applications.

Her significant contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards including the Research to Prevent Blindness International Research Scholar Award USA (2014), Allergan Glaucoma Achievement Award (2010), Lewis Rudin Glaucoma Prize (2005), International Glaucoma Review Award (2000), and the Moorfields Research Gold Medal (1998).

As an educator, Professor Cordeiro has served as Graduate Tutor at UCL, teaches on the Clinical Ophthalmology MSc Course, and supervises PhD, MSc, and iBSc students. She mentors clinical scientists at both UCL and Imperial College and oversees trainee research projects as Research Lead at the Western Eye Hospital. Her research has been continuously funded by the Wellcome Trust since 1996, including a Vision Research Fellowship, University Award, and Wellcome Translational Award for the DARC Project.

Professor Cordeiro actively contributes to the scientific community through service on international committees including the European Glaucoma Society and EVER. She chairs the EGS Neuroprotection SIG and serves on editorial boards of Investigative Ophthalmology, Experimental Eye Research, and Scientifica, bridging clinical practice, translational research, and education in her impactful career.