Dr Frank Proudlock

I have worked in the University of Leicester Ulverscroft Eye Unit investigating normal eye development and visual developmental diseases for over twenty years. Some of the research areas I have focussed on include improving diagnostic imaging in children’s eye diseases evaluating the impact of visual diseases on aspects of vision that are important for daily life such as reading and investigating the visual pathway in visual developmental diseases. With a background in neuroscience and bioengineering much of my career has been spent in collaborative clinical trials and studies providing technical and analytical expertise. This includes using techniques such as optical coherence tomography and eye movement recordings. I undertake a variety of lecture series for undergraduate and post-graduate students for both basic science and clinical science courses. I also have a number of administrative responsibilities such as acting as post-graduate tutor for the department. I have also co-authored six book chapters and act as scientific adviser for Nystagmus Network UK.

Much of the recent research I have been involved has revolved around the use of hand-held optical coherence tomography a high-resolution imaging technique that generates 3D images of children’s eyes. The University of Leicester Ulverscroft Eye Unit has been at the forefront of using this technique and is one of the largest centres in the world for paediatric eye imaging. Studies have included developing a normative database from over 1000 children (£775K MRC grant MR/N004566/1 2016-19 co-investigator; Ulverscroft Foundation) which we have recently been developing for FDA approval (£40583 LD3/IAX MRC grant 2019 principal investigator). We have also used the method to improve diagnostic imaging in diseases including retinoblastoma nystagmus infantile glaucoma and retinopathy of prematurity (£247K Ulverscroft Foundation 2021-23 principal investigator). Other studies include investigating the effect of nystagmus and albinism on reading. This includes gaining funding for a study into the effect of glare on vision and reading in albinism and nystagmus (£100K Fight for Sight 2022-25 principal investigator).

Cerebral malaria: insight into pathology from optical coherence tomography. Tu Z, Gormley J, Sheth V, Seydel KB, Taylor T, Beare N, Barrera V, Proudlock FA, Manda C, Harding S, Gottlob I. Sci Rep. 2021 Aug 3;11(1):15722. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-94495-9.

Feasibility and Repeatability of Handheld Optical Coherence Tomography in Children With Craniosynostosis. Rufai SR, Bowman R, Bunce C, Panteli V, McLean RJ, Teli S, Gottlob I, Thomas MG, Jeelani NUO, Proudlock FA. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2021 Jul 1;10(8):24. doi: 10.1167/tvst.10.8.24.

Anterior Chamber Measurements in Healthy Children: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Optical Coherence Tomography. Edawaji BSA, Gottlob I, Proudlock FA. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2021 May 3;10(6):13. doi: 10.1167/tvst.10.6.13.

Reliability and Recommended Settings for Pediatric Circumpapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Imaging Using Hand-Held Optical Coherence Tomography. Shah SD, Haq A, Toufeeq S, Tu Z, Edawaji B, Abbott J, Gottlob I, Proudlock FA. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2020 Jun 30;9(7):43. doi: 10.1167/tvst.9.7.43.

Can Structural Grading of Foveal Hypoplasia Predict Future Vision in Infantile Nystagmus?: A Longitudinal Study. Rufai SR, Thomas MG, Purohit R, Bunce C, Lee H, Proudlock FA, Gottlob I. Ophthalmology. 2020 Apr;127(4):492-500. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.10.037.

Potential Utility Of Foveal Morphology In Preterm Infants Measured Using Hand-Held Optical Coherence Tomography In Retinopathy Of Prematurity Screening. Anwar S, Nath M, Patel A, Lee H, Brown S, Gottlob I, Proudlock FA. Retina. 2020 Aug;40(8):1592-1602. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000002622.

Reading Individual Words Within Sentences in Infantile Nystagmus. Prakash E, McLean RJ, White SJ, Paterson KB, Gottlob I, Proudlock FA. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2019 May 1;60(6):2226-2236. doi: 10.1167/iovs.18-25793.

Retinal Layer Abnormalities as Biomarkers of Schizophrenia. Samani NN, Proudlock FA, Siram V, Suraweera C, Hutchinson C, Nelson CP, Al-Uzri M, Gottlob I. Schizophr Bull. 2018 Jun 6;44(4):876-885. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbx130.

Optic Nerve Head Development in Healthy Infants and Children Using Handheld Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. Patel A, Purohit R, Lee H, Sheth V, Maconachie G, Papageorgiou E, McLean RJ, Gottlob I, Proudlock FA. Ophthalmology. 2016 Oct;123(10):2147-57. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.06.057.

Characterization of Abnormal Optic Nerve Head Morphology in Albinism Using Optical Coherence Tomography. Mohammad S, Gottlob I, Sheth V, Pilat A, Lee H, Pollheimer E, Proudlock FA. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2015 Jul;56(8):4611-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.15-16856.

I have supervised 14PhD students 5MD students and currently supervise 5 PhD students. Topics that I am willing to supervise on include: • Optical coherence tomography imaging in paediatric eye diseases • Developmental eye diseases • Clinical trials in visual diseases • Reading studies • Amblyopia • Nystagmus and albinism • Iris and glare studies

• BS3033 - Physiology Pharmacology and Behaviour (module convenor lectures practicals) • BS3016 - Neuroscience Futures (lectures and tutorials) • BS2015 - Neuroscience (lectures and tutorials) • BS2013 - Physiology and Pharmacology (tutorials) • BS2000 - Research topic (tutorials) • BS1060 - BS1060 Multicellular Organisation - An Introduction to Physiology Pharmacology and Neuroscience (lectures practicals) • Intercalated medical student supervision • Contribution to international course into clinical use of paediatric optical coherence tomography run by University of Leicester Ulverscroft Eye Unit

Nystagmus and albinism normal eye development optical coherence tomography.

• Co-editor to BMC Ophthalmology • Member of Annual Research into Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Programming Committee from 2013-2016 including acting as advocate to campaign for funding for vision research by the US government. This included lobbying senators and congressmen on Capitol Hill Washington DC in 2016. • Scientific advisor for Nystagmus Network UK

• Loris and David Rich Lecture Series in Visual Science University of Alabama Birmingham USA 2018 “What can albinism tell us about the visual system?” • Responsibility to organise moderate and give introduction to a Special Interest Group at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2017 Baltimore USA - “Controversies in Albinism - Why is Their Vision Poor and How Do We Fix It?” • Responsibility to organise and moderate symposium at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2017 Baltimore USA • Invited talk at American Nystagmus Network Meeting 2019 Washington DC USA “functional vision in nystagmus” • Moderation of numerous paper and poster sessions at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting

• The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2021 online (poster presentation moderation) • 5th European Days of Albinism 2021 online • The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2019 Vancouver BC Canada (oral presentation moderation) • American Nystagmus Network Meeting 2019 Washington DC USA (oral presentation) • European Neuro-ophthalmology Society meeting 2019 Porto Portugal (poster presentation) • The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2018 Honolulu Hawaii USA (oral presentation moderation) • 4th European Days of Albinism Olso Norway 2018 (oral presentation) • The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2017 Baltimore USA (oral presentation moderation organisation of symposium and special interest group) • The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting 2016 Seattle USA (oral presentation moderation)

BSc in Neuroscience University of Glasgow 1993 MSc in Bioengineering Strathclyde University 1994 PhD University of Leicester 2000 (entitled “The Sensory Control of Movement Subsequent To Peripheral Nerve Injury”)