Jugnoo Rahi, Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology at University College London, has pioneered ophthalmic population health sciences, with an outstanding personal portfolio of innovative discovery science and translational research addressing the causes of blindness afflicting 81 million children worldwide. As the UK’s first Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology, she has built research infrastructure and culture to grow her discipline and developed careers.
Her work improving prevention, treatment and services has been instrumental to the World Health Organisation’s VISION2020 global initiative against blindness, and as the UK member of WHO’s Paediatric Eye Care Expert Group she co-authored WHO’s first implementation guidance for Governments.
She pioneered ophthalmic life-course epidemiology to uncover and quantify striking ethnic and socio-economic inequalities in visual health across the lifespan and impact of sight impairment on health and life chances.