Macular Pigment Research Group

The macular pigment research group (MPRG) is committed to the study of macular pigment (MP), a dietary pigment found at the back of the eye. This dietary pigment is made up from the dietary carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin and given its blue light filtering and antioxidant properties, is believed to play a role in protecting against age-related macular degeneration and enhance visual performance and comfort.

European Research Council - Starter Grant

Dr John Nolan, Director of the MPRG has become the first ever Institute of Technology researcher to receive funding from the European Research Council (ERC). The grant, worth €1.5million, will allow former Fulbright Scholar Dr John Nolan to continue his research into Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of blindness and is thought to affect up to 80,000 people in Ireland as well as direct and indirect costs of up to €133million per annum.

The five year grant is the result of 10 years of research by Dr Nolan into AMD and eye health nutrition and will create five new jobs in a newly designated research centre in Carriganore House in WIT’s West Campus. Dr Nolan said that he was delighted that WIT and the South East will now be nationally and internationally recognised as a centre for research excellence.

“This is a significant award and a huge honour, not only for me, but for the Institute and everyone who has supported our work and the application for funding. With this funding, we have the opportunity to be at the forefront of world-class research and innovation in WIT and demonstrate to our national and international counterparts that with the right people and the right resources, anything is possible.”

“The establishment of a research programme and centre of this calibre makes Waterford and Ireland extremely attractive for further research opportunities. Our strategy is to develop a European consortium to build on this research at an international level. Indeed already we have been able to develop meaningful links with potential European partners and in addition to the ERC grant, we have secured further funding from the Howard Foundation, Cambridge University, to support a  study into nutrition and eye health. These complementary research grants will support three new PhD students who will join our multidisciplinary research team this year.”

l-r  Dr John Nolan, Director MPRG and Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn	l-r Acting President, Mr Tony McFeely and Dr John Nolan