Professor Robin Ali is Professor of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL. He began working on ocular gene therapy in 1995. After overcoming many scientifically and technical challenges, culminating in the first clear demonstration of efficient photoreceptor cell transduction using an adeno-associated viral vector, he went on to optimise the production of delivery vectors and the efficiency of target cell transduction, and documented immune responses following gene delivery. Building on this careful work, Professor Ali then demonstrated functional rescue of a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa, thus establishing proof of concept for ocular gene therapy by achieving functional rescue of an animal model of disease. His more recent work developing stem cell therapy for retinal degeneration represents another exciting possibility for treating these conditions. Professor Ali’s single-minded determination to find a treatment for patients with incurable forms of retinal degeneration is truly impressive, and I commend him to you.