Expert Witness

Professor Jane Ashworth

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon & Paediatric Ophthalmologist

BA (Hons), BMBCh, MA, FRCOphth, PhD, CCST

Clinical practice experience

Professor Ashworth qualified in medicine in 1992 at the University of Oxford and went on to gain her PhD at the University of Manchester. She has been a Consultant at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital for over 15 years, providing a general ophthalmic service and a tertiary referral service in clinical and surgical paediatric ophthalmology, and was appointed Honorary Chair in Paediatric Ophthalmology at the University of Manchester in 2021.

Clinical interests

Professor Ashworth is particularly interested in paediatric eye disorders including cerebral visual impairment, congenital cataract and glaucoma, childhood strabismus and amblyopia, genetic eye disorders, paediatric uveitis, neurometabolic disease and the eye, and retinopathy of prematurity.

Research interests

Professor Ashworth has undertaken portfolio-adopted studies into the genetics of childhood cataract, retinopathy of prematurity, and eye disease in neurometabolic disorders. She is the Principal Investigator for industry-funded research studies into paediatric eye disease and has received research grants which provide funding for a research fellow.

Teaching & training

Professor Ashworth is currently an Honorary Professor at the University of Manchester, and is the Head of the School of Ophthalmology at Health Education North West. Prior to this, she was the Training Director for Health Education North West. Previously, Professor Ashworth was a Clinical Lecturer in Ophthalmology at the University of Manchester (between 2000-2005). She supervises and trains specialist registrars and two current fellows in paediatric ophthalmology, and is active in the supervision of research fellows and teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Professor Ashworth is also an examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.

Summary of publications

Professor Ashworth has authored or co-authored more than 80 research papers, four book chapters, and has co-edited a textbook on genetics for ophthalmologists (Elsevier).

Memberships of professional bodies

Management experience

Professor Ashworth is the Ophthalmology Lead for the Greater Manchester Clinical Research Network and is Head of the School of Ophthalmology for Health Education North West.

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