What Eyes on the Future does

Eyes on the Future is a UK-registered charitable organization (Charity No. 1198330, Company No. 13956181) founded in 2017 by Silvia and Enrico Cerolini after their daughter's diagnosis with RDH12 Leber Congenital Amaurosis, a rare inherited retinal dystrophy causing progressive childhood blindness. Originally operating as Through Vicky's Eyes and rebranded in 2022, the organization functions as a patient-driven research catalyst for a single ultra-rare indication, coordinating the Global RDH12 Alliance with RDH12 Fund for Sight (US) and Candle in the Dark (Belgium).

The organization does not develop therapeutics in-house but funds and co-develops research through three core programs: a first-in-class RDH12 gene therapy co-developed with Opus Genetics under a milestone-based, risk-sharing partnership committing up to $1.6 million (July 2025); a small molecule drug repurposing program at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital (Dr. Mariya Moosajee) supported by a £314,000 competitive grant (2024); and patient-derived stem cell disease models. It also operates a multilingual community registry (English, Spanish, Chinese) covering 180+ patients across 13+ countries, publishes RDH12 Scientific Landscape reviews, and convenes biennial global scientific conferences.

Revenue is entirely donation- and grant-based, with no products or services sold commercially. Fundraising spans individual donations (with UK Gift Aid), corporate partnerships and matching programs (Citi, Linklaters, MeiraGTx, Allen & Overy, Latham & Watkins, Clifford Chance, P&G, Sanofi, Fasanara Capital), sports event fundraising (London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon, Sydney Marathon), gala dinners (London 2018 and 2023, Italy 2021 virtual), competitive grants, and children's books illustrated by an RDH12 patient. Since inception, Eyes on the Future has raised over £800K and the Global Alliance over $1M; the organization is volunteer-run with 1-10 staff.

Name

Eyes on the Future

Legal name

Eyes on the Future

Website

https://eyesonthefuture.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eyes on the Future is a UK-registered charity funding and co-developing gene therapy and small molecule research for RDH12 inherited retinal dystrophy, serving a global community of 180+ patients across 13+ countries via the Global RDH12 Alliance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rare Disease Research Nonprofit

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmology Gene Therapies (HLAAACAG), Global Health Research, Clinical Trials & Product Development Partnerships (PDPs) (HLAJAOAM)

Keywords

• Rare disease research
• Gene therapy development
• Patient advocacy nonprofit
• Retinal dystrophy research
• Community fundraising charity

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, facilitated through the website, JustGiving page, and direct bank transfers. UK donors can claim Gift Aid (25% additional at no cost to donor).
2. Sports Event Fundraising: Community members raise funds by participating in iconic sporting events including London Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon, London Landmarks Half Marathon, and international events. Fundraising totals per event are reported publicly.
3. Gala Dinner Fundraising: High-profile gala events in London (2018, 2023) and virtual format (2021 Italy) generate significant donations through ticket sales, auction items, and corporate sponsorships. The 2018 London gala raised over £220,000; the 2021 virtual gala raised over €180,000.
4. Competitive Grants: Eyes on the Future has received competitive grants including £314,000 from a UK family trust (2024) for small molecules research, £30,000 from the Ulverscroft Foundation (2025) for gene therapy, and undisclosed funding from Thomas Pocklington Trust (2025).
5. Vicky's Books Sales: Sale of limited-edition children's books 'The Magical Unicorn and the Sparkling Rainbow' and 'The Magical Unicorn and the Icy Palace' illustrated by RDH12 patient Vicky. All proceeds are donated to support research for Leber Congenital Amaurosis.
6. Corporate Partnerships & Matching Donations: Corporate donations, matching donation programs, and event sponsorships. Notable sponsors for gala events include Citi, Linklaters, MeiraGTx, Allen & Overy, Latham & Watkins, Clifford Chance, P&G, Sanofi, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eyes on the Future is a patient-driven nonprofit that funds, coordinates, and accelerates research into RDH12 Inherited Retinal Dystrophy through a community registry, competitive research grants, co-development of a first-in-class gene therapy with Opus Genetics, and small molecule drug repurposing studies in partnership with UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfields Eye Hospital. It also runs fundraising events (sports challenges, gala dinners, illustrated children's books) and biennial scientific and family conferences to support its research mission.

Product overview

Eyes on the Future is a UK-based not-for-profit organization (previously known as Through Vicky's Eyes) that operates as a patient-driven research catalyst rather than a traditional product company. The organization offers a portfolio of community-focused services including the RDH12 IRD Community Registry for patient data collection, the Global RDH12 Family Conference for community engagement, and various research programs including gene therapy partnerships (with Opus Genetics), small molecules drug development, and scientific publications/grants. Fundraising products include Vicky's illustrated children's books, sports events participation, and annual gala dinners. The organization is structured as a charitable foundation focused on accelerating treatments for RDH12 inherited retinal dystrophy rather than commercial product delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vicky's Books (The Magical Unicorn Series)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £800K raised by Eyes on the Future; over $1M by Global Alliance; £314K competitive grant for small molecules research in 2024; up to $1.6M committed to Opus Genetics partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Opus GeneticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025In July 2025, as part of the Global RDH12 Alliance, Eyes on the Future signed a landmark partnership with Opus Genetics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for inherited retinal diseases. Together they are co-developing a first-in-class gene therapy for RDH12 Inherited Retinal Dystrophy. The Alliance will contribute up to $1.6 million towards development, sharing risk via performance-based milestones and jointly developing clinical and regulatory strategy.
• RDH12 Fund for Sight (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based international charity and founding member of the Global RDH12 Alliance. RDH12 Fund for Sight's mission is to bring together families with common concerns, collect and distribute information about LCA caused by RDH12, and ensure significant funds are devoted to the study and development of treatments. Co-funds research grants and the Opus Genetics partnership.
• Candle in the Dark (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian charitable organisation managed by the King Baudouin Foundation, funding research into gene therapy for inherited eye diseases leading to blindness in young children. Founding member of the Global RDH12 Alliance. Has funded preclinical gene therapy work at Institut de la Vision, Paris.
• Foundation Fighting Blindness (USA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based organization with the mission to fund research leading to prevention, treatment and cures for the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. Partnered with Eyes on the Future to convene the first global RDH12 scientific conference in 2019.
• Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & UCL Institute of OphthalmologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partnership with Dr. Mariya Moosajee's team at Moorfields Eye Hospital (largest ophthalmological hospital in Europe) and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. Partnership includes a 3-year grant (extended to 4th year) for drug repurposing/small molecules research, and collaboration on the first RDH12 patient information day in 2018.
• Retina UKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based charity working for people affected by inherited sight loss. Has provided over £16 million in research funding since 1976. Co-funded the early research partnership with Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL through the Eyes on the Future/Through Vicky's Eyes initiative.
• Retina Italia OnlusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian not-for-profit fighting against hereditary retinal dystrophies, promoting and developing scientific research for identifying causes, treatment, and prevention of conditions causing low vision and blindness. Serves as a donation channel for Italian supporters (tax-deductible donations to Retina Italia's RDH12 Fund).
• LifeArcminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish life science medical research charity that uses royalty payments to fund grants into rare disease research and provides seed funding to UK companies.
• Fondazione TelethonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian non-profit recognized by the Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research, managing and promoting fundraising initiatives and allocating funds to scientific research.
• Fight for SightminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK charity funding research into prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease. Active in funding research into a wide range of inherited eye diseases and causes of childhood blindness.
• Hope in FocusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based non-profit (formerly Sofia Sees Hope) dedicated to generating awareness, raising funds for research, and providing support and outreach to the LCA and rare inherited retinal disease community.
• Retina InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal umbrella organisation for patient-led charities and foundations supporting research into rare, genetically inherited and age-related forms of retinal disease.
• EURORDISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-governmental patient-driven alliance of patient organisations representing 1,000 rare disease patient organisations in 74 countries. Eyes on the Future is a member, gaining access to a broad rare disease network.
• Global GenesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance providing hope for the more than 400 million people affected by rare disease. Believes collaboration is key to positive change. Eyes on the Future is a member.
• Genetic Alliance UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK organization working on issues that families and individuals with genetic conditions face, providing information, support, and influencing services needed by patients.
• Beacon for Rare DiseasesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based charity building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart. UpSkills rare disease patient groups through trainings, guided programmes, and research initiatives.
• Fasanara Capital LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-headquartered FCA-authorised investment firm and technology platform. Pioneer investor in Fintech Lending through Alternative Credit funds enabling Real Economy Impact. Corporate partner and supporter of Eyes on the Future.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Candle in the Dark: Belgian charitable fund managed by the King Baudouin Foundation and a co-founding member of the Global RDH12 Alliance. Funds gene therapy research for inherited eye diseases in young children, including preclinical work at Institut de la Vision, Paris.
• Hope in Focus: US-based nonprofit (formerly Sofia Sees Hope) dedicated to LCA and rare inherited retinal disease awareness, research funding, and patient support. Same target patient population (LCA) and similar patient-advocacy operating model.
• RDH12 Fund for Sight: US-based international charity and co-founding member of the Global RDH12 Alliance, focused on the same RDH12 LCA indication. Directly comparable in mission, patient community, and co-funding of research and the Opus Genetics partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Fight for Sight: UK charity funding research into the prevention and treatment of blindness and eye disease, including inherited eye diseases and childhood blindness. Comparable in mission, geography, and grantmaking role to Eyes on the Future.
• Foundation Fighting Blindness: Large US-based nonprofit funding research across the full spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. Convened the first RDH12 global scientific conference with Eyes on the Future and overlaps on inherited retinal disease research and advocacy.
• Retina UK: UK charity supporting people affected by inherited sight loss, with over £16M in research funding since 1976. Co-funded early Eyes on the Future/Moorfields research and operates in the same UK inherited retinal disease space.
• Retina International: Global umbrella for patient-led charities and foundations supporting research into rare and age-related retinal disease. Eyes on the Future is a member; both organizations operate at the intersection of patient advocacy and inherited retinal disease research.

Regional players

• Retina Italia Onlus: Italian nonprofit focused on hereditary retinal dystrophies and a named partner of Eyes on the Future. Provides Eyes on the Future with a tax-deductible donation channel in Italy and shares a similar disease-specific patient-support mission.

Others

• EURORDIS – Rare Diseases Europe: Non-governmental patient-driven alliance of over 1,000 rare disease patient organisations across 74 countries. Eyes on the Future is a member; EURORDIS provides the broader rare disease policy, advocacy, and network infrastructure within which Eyes on the Future operates.

Emerging players

• Choroideremia Research Foundation: US nonprofit driving research toward a cure for choroideremia, another ultra-rare inherited retinal disease. Operates a comparable patient-advocacy-plus-research-funding model and represents a parallel template for Eyes on the Future's RDH12 strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eyesonthefutureorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eyesonthefuture
• Instagraminstagram.com/eyesonthefuture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eyes on the Future