ASSOCIATED PROJECTS

Research at the intersection of evidence-based ophthalmology and digital health

Having developed an interest in clinical research – especially relating to ophthalmology and digital health – as a medical student at University of Cambridge, I was very keen to continue academic work after graduating.

The Oxford ASFP offered valuable research time and flexibility to choose projects and supervisors rather than being allocated a team and topic to work on. It also offered funding to attend conferences to present research, teaching on methodology, and networking opportunities to meet peers and seniors within clinical academia.

Overall, it was a no-brainer to apply! 

I chose a programme with day-release (1-2 days/week) over 12-months rather than a 4-month research rotation. This allowed me to keep up with many projects over a longer period:

• Systematic reviews on robotic eye surgery and clinical trial endpoints with the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology;
• Automated diabetic retinopathy identification and vessel segmentation with the Big Data Institute;
• A meta-research study on clinical trial methodology with the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine;
• Validation of automated abstract screening for systematic review;
• Delphi consensus exercise to develop a reporting tool for studies evaluating healthcare advice from artificial intelligence;
• Development and deployment of a web-application for classifying the severity of vision loss due to glaucoma.

I also tutored second-year medical students for their neuroscience course and worked as AI & Oculomics Section Editor at Eye News. 

I presented my work at conferences in Hong Kong, Seattle, Rome, London, Oxford, Cambridge, and Liverpool; and gave a lecture for the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology at the Houses of Parliament. My work was published in 16+ peer-reviewed articles and some of these were featured by international news media, including BBC News, Sky News, Financial Times, Der Spiegel, and others. I also won prizes from OUCAGS, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Royal Society of Medicine, and the UK Foundation Programme Office (UKFPO).

It is important to recognise that ASFP doctors are expected, with less time for clinical work than their peers, to meet the same competencies, but this should not put aspiring applicants off! There is more than enough time to exceed expectations on the regular Foundation programme, and research time offers valuable flexibility and opportunities to broaden experience, develop new skills, and build the portfolio. 

I turned down a Specialised Foundation Programme offer from another deanery in favour of the ASFP programme run by OUCAGS. The Oxford ASFP offers the most flexibility in selecting projects and supervisors, as well as a collaborative and supportive environment for clinical academics in training. This includes frequent opportunities to network and learn what others are pursuing in their academic work.

The University of Oxford features top research teams across all disciplines, with great opportunities to get involved with, and drive, impactful work. Working with expert non-clinicians is useful for gaining insight into other academic fields; and as a doctor it is possible to provide useful input too. The proximity of the hospitals to so many active researchers also cultivates an environment that is more understanding of clinical academic pressures. This is ideal when trying to secure leave at an odd time to present research! 

I have loved my time on the ASFP and am continuing my career in clinical academia as an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology, in North London, from August 2025.

June 2025