Professor Sajjad Ahmad

Professor Ahmad is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. He has special expertise in ocular surface regeneration, corneal reconstruction, and stem cell therapies. He undertakes vision correction procedures such as laser eye surgery, refractive lens exchange and implantable contact lenses. He leads pioneering clinical trials in limbal stem cell and allogeneic cell therapies, with one therapy receiving EMA orphan drug designation. Professor Ahmad’s research has attracted over £5 million in funding, and he continues to mentor postgraduate students and collaborate internationally. His clinical expertise and translational research make him a leader in treating complex corneal and ocular surface conditions.

Qualifications / Professional memberships

• MB BS Newcastle University Medical School.
• FRCOphth, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London.
• CertLRS, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London
• PhD in stem cell biology, Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University.
• Member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
• Member of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Current NHS / University Post

• Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
• Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London.
• Honorary Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, St Paul's Eye Unit, Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
• Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, Department of Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool.

Medical training

• Corneal, cataract and ocular surface disease specialist who studied at Newcastle University Medical School.
• Early ophthalmology training in Newcastle up Tyne.
• Corneal fellowship with Professor Stephen Kaye at St Paul's Eye Unit, Liverpool.
• Corneal fellowship with Professor John Dart at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
• Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon/Senior Clinical Lecturer at St Paul's Eye Unit, Liverpool.

Research interest / experience

• Professor Ahmad is dual trained in ophthalmology and clinically relevant laboratory research.
• He was awarded a PhD in stem cell biology from Newcastle University in 2007 for his work on developing a novel stem cell therapy for corneal burns. This has led to pivotal European and national trials.
• Held an NIHR academic clinical lecturer post at Newcastle University and a senior clinical lecturer post in the Department of Eye and Vision Science at the University of Liverpool.
• His current research, based at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, is in the development of novel therapy for corneal endothelial disease.

Languages spoken

English, Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi