Denize Atan

My work sits at the interface of ophthalmology, neuroscience, and genetics, with a particular focus on understanding how genetic and environmental factors influence the development and function of the visual system and the brain.

Prior to joining Oxford, I was a clinical academic at the University of Bristol, where sI developed an integrated programme of research combining translational science with clinical practice. My postgraduate research investigated genetic susceptibility to inflammatory eye diseases, which led to a broader research interest in the molecular and developmental mechanisms linking ocular and neurological disorders. This direction was further strengthened during a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, where I advanced her work on gene function in eye and brain development.

On returning to Bristol, I established and led the Eye and Brain Group, a multidisciplinary research programme bringing together expertise in genetic epidemiology, neuroscience, psychology, data science, and mixed methods research, alongside clinical disciplines across primary and secondary care. The group’s work integrates population-based studies, experimental approaches, and clinical investigation to elucidate how genetic variation and environmental exposures interact to shape visual and neurological outcomes across the life course. A central aim of this work is to improve early detection, risk stratification, and therapeutic approaches for complex disorders affecting the eye–brain axis.

My research is characterised by its interdisciplinary scope, combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies and fostering collaboration across traditionally distinct domains. My work contributes to a growing understanding of the shared biological pathways underlying ocular and neurological disease, with implications for both precision medicine and public health.

In parallel with my research and clinical practice, I am actively engaged in the communication of science to diverse audiences and is committed to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion within medicine, science, and academia.