The Liverpool Ocular Oncology Research Group has had an extraordinary year of international collaboration, student mentorship, and public engagement. From welcoming researchers from across the globe to inspiring the next generation of scientists, our work continues to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and the communities we serve.
International Visitors
We began the year with a bittersweet farewell to Honda, an ophthalmologist from Taiwan who spent a full year with our research group. Honda became an integral part of our team, and his return to Taiwan marks the beginning of what we hope will be a lasting international partnership.
We also welcomed Roman Moskalenko and Ruslanna Lakhtarina from Ukraine for several weeks of intensive collaboration. Their visit involved knowledge exchange sessions on our research methods, laying the groundwork for future joint projects.
Our annual DTP, now in its eighteenth year, welcomed Othmane Touirssa. Othmane is an ophthalmologist from Germany, who was with us for a week-long placement covering ocular oncology diagnosis, treatment approaches, and our current research.
Student Placements
Through the Research Placement and Experiences scheme, we hosted Year 12 + 13 students Ailsa Fox, Gabby Kays and Haliyah Fashina for a week learning about our Ocular Oncology Biobank, from specimen processing to the ethical frameworks guiding our work.
We also welcomed second-year university students Dylan Sudlow and Jasmine Kalirai, who gained hands-on experience with our biobank operations and broader research on uveal melanoma genetics and diagnostic approaches.
We also welcomed second-year university students Dylan Sudlow and Jasmine Kalirai, who gained hands-on experience with our biobank operations and broader research on uveal melanoma genetics and diagnostic approaches.
This year we were also delighted to welcome Emma Rose as our new MRes student. Emma will be investigating extracellular vesicles in uveal melanoma, exploring this exciting area of cell-to-cell communication and its role in cancer biology—a project that bridges fundamental biology with clinical applications.
British Science Festival Success
The highlight of our outreach year came at the British Science Festival, where our interactive stand became one of the event's most popular destinations, with queues around the venue throughout the evening.
We offered three main activities: "Guess the Species" featuring close-up eye images from different animals, "Can You Beat the AI?"—a custom Raspberry Pi game challenging visitors to distinguish uveal melanomas from naevi, and an iris imaging station using phone-based technology with AI upscaling. The overwhelming response showed that when science is made accessible and engaging, people of all ages are eager to learn about even specialized research areas.
International Recognition
Prof Sarah Coupland represented LOORG on the international stage at the European Society of Pathology congress in Vienna, where she delivered a keynote talk. This prestigious invitation highlights the growing recognition of our research contributions to ocular oncology pathology and underscores LOORG's position as a leading centre in the field.
LOORG's international presence continued at the Pathological Society (PathSoc) meeting in Ghent, where both Prof Sarah Coupland and Dr Helen Kalirai attended, furthering our collaborative networks and sharing our latest research findings with the European pathology community.
Dr Helen Kalirai also represented LOORG at the World Congress of Melanoma, delivering a talk on AI and genetics that showcased how our group is integrating cutting-edge computational approaches with genetic research to advance understanding of uveal melanoma.
Our commitment to sharing research extended across the Atlantic this year when Dr Helen Kalirai, Dr Karen Aughton, Max Jackson, Josh Hattersley, and James Draper travelled to Salt Lake City for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) conference. ARVO represents the largest gathering of eye and vision researchers worldwide, and presenting our work to this diverse international audience demonstrated LOORG's growing influence in the field of ocular oncology research.
Our New Trusted Research Environment
This year marked a significant milestone with the launch of EYE-CAN-AID, our new Trusted Research Environment (TRE) for ocular oncology research. This secure platform brings together a comprehensive collection of data including histology images, clinical fundoscopy and OCT imaging, clinical data, and genetic information—all in one accessible resource.
EYE-CAN-AID has been designed specifically to facilitate research collaborations, providing researchers worldwide with secure access to one of the most extensive ocular oncology datasets available. By combining multiple data modalities in a single environment, we're enabling novel research approaches that weren't previously possible and accelerating the pace of discovery in uveal melanoma and other ocular cancers.
For researchers interested in accessing EYE-CAN-AID or learning more about collaboration opportunities, full details are available on the EYE-CAN-AID page.
EYE-CAN-AID has been designed specifically to facilitate research collaborations, providing researchers worldwide with secure access to one of the most extensive ocular oncology datasets available. By combining multiple data modalities in a single environment, we're enabling novel research approaches that weren't previously possible and accelerating the pace of discovery in uveal melanoma and other ocular cancers.
For researchers interested in accessing EYE-CAN-AID or learning more about collaboration opportunities, full details are available on the EYE-CAN-AID page.
EYE-CAN-AID goes to Westminster!
Professor Sarah Coupland, Dr Helen Kalirai, and Mr Max Jackson visited Westminster to showcase our Trusted Research Environment (TRE) and discuss the role of digitisation and AI in pathology. Professor Coupland gave a talk on how the NHS 10-Year Plan supports the adoption of digital pathology and AI, highlighting how secure, integrated data platforms can accelerate research and improve patient care in ocular oncology.
Looking Ahead
This year has reinforced LOORG's commitment to collaboration, education, and public engagement. Whether you're a researcher interested in collaboration, a student curious about ocular oncology, or someone who wants to support our mission, we invite you to join us on this journey.
Merry Loorgmas!
Merry Loorgmas!
