Meet the CVI Team
School of Medicine
Dr Andrew Blaikie
Andrew is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medicine and Consultant Ophthalmologist with NHS Fife. He is an advisor to our partner charity, CVI Scotland and technical advisor to the eye care NGO Christian Blind Mission Global. He was the lead ophthalmologist that established the Visual Impairment Network for Children and Young People and the National Dataset for Childhood Visual Impairment.
Dr Andrew Blaikie, School of Medicine
Dr Sam Neal
Sam joined the School of Medicine as a Medical Demonstrator after completing the Academic Foundation Programme in Edinburgh. Based on his interest in brain development after preterm birth, he is developing a package of resources to improve knowledge of CVI for those supporting children born preterm.
Helen St Clair Tracy
Helen in an Honorary Lecturer at the School of Medicine and runs our partner charity, CVI Scotland. Helen’s interests include developing simple, inexpensive yet widely accessible resources, to identify and support people affected by CVI, including through virtual reality simulation. Helen consults with the CVI community and experts in the field to direct the creation of simulations of cerebral visual impairments. Helen’s son has CVI.
School of Computer Science
Dr Catherine Anne Cassidy
Catherine plays a role in the project’s community outreach and impact. She develops outreach mechanisms, facilitating the dissemination and utilization of project findings, ensuring the project’s outcomes reach a wider audience for greater awareness, understanding, and meaningful impact.
Catherine Anne Cassidy – University of St Andrews (st-andrews.ac.uk)
Sarah Kennedy
Sarah’s role in the project centers around creating virtual reality (VR) experiences. Using her expertise, she develops immersive VR simulations that offer unique perspectives and insights. Sarah’s creations contribute to the project’s goals by enhancing understanding, engagement, and exploration of the subject matter through captivating and interactive VR environments.
Miss Sarah Kennedy – School of Computer Science (st-andrews.ac.uk)
Dr Alan Miller
Alan, a lecturer at the School of Computer Science, contributes his expertise in Virtual World technologies, real-time multimedia operating systems, and technology-enhanced learning to the CVI project. His primary focus is on developing simulations that provide insights into the visual perceptions of individuals with visual impairments.
Dr Alan Miller – School of Computer Science (st-andrews.ac.uk)
Dr Kamila Oles
Kamila, a UX-focused concept designer, creates user-centric tools using mixed media (VR, AR, video, graphics) creating immersive and intuitive interfaces. She visualizes research findings and curates digital resources, improving accessibility and understanding of visual perceptions in individuals with impairments.
Kamila Grazyna Oles – University of St Andrews (st-andrews.ac.uk)
Dr Iain Olivier
Iain, an expert in virtual world technologies, is involved in a project focused on implementing AR and VR systems. His work revolves around simulating the visual experiences of individuals with CVI, utilizing augmented reality and virtual reality to create immersive and realistic simulations
.Iain Angus Oliver – University of St Andrews (st-andrews.ac.uk)
Students
Aloka Jayasinghe
Aloka is a medical student and was awarded the prestigious Laidlaw Scholarship. Aloka is conducting research looking at the effectiveness of virtual reality simulation videos as a learning resource for teachers.
Tallulah Swinscoe
Previous Students
- Hafeez Abdul-Rahaman 2018/9 Final Year Undergraduate Project
- Cristina Bikanga Ada 2020/21 Final Year Undergraduate Project
- Cameron Wilson 2020/21 Master’s Degree Project
- Jingjing Lu 2023 Master’s Degree Project
- Jiantong Yang 2023 Master’s Degree Project
External Advisors
Prof Gordon Dutton
Professor Gordon Dutton is a Paediatric Ophthalmologist who worked for over 20 years at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Visual Science at Glasgow Caledonian University. Gordon has contributed to a range of books and published many papers on cerebral visual impairment and is considered by many to be the world leading expert on the subject.
Dr Nicola McDowell
Dr Nicola McDowell is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Education at Massey University, New Zealand. Nicola is an expert in CVI, has published many papers and presents and teaches about CVI around the world. Nicola has developed the world’s first CVI screening app called the Austin Assessment and is a founder member of CVI Scotland. Nicola acquired CVI due to a brain injury when she was sixteen.
Project Partners
CVI Scotland
CVI Scotland (the Cerebral Visual Impairment Society of Scotland charity) provide information on CVI through their website and resources. As project partner, CVI Scotland share their international network of CVI experts, importantly including many people with CVI, whose contributions have formed the core of important new knowledge gained. CVI Scotland is a leading global resource used in nearly every country in the world.