New chair to lead BCLA’s academic programme

New chair to lead BCLA’s academic programme

A leading contact lens specialist with more than 50 peer-reviewed papers to his name and experience of presenting at conferences across the world will lead the BCLA’s academic output.

Dr Debarun Dutta, a tenured lecturer at Aston University’s School of Optometry, has been appointed as the BCLA’s new academic chair, and will work alongside the current holder of the position, Professor James Wolffsohn, before he steps aside next year.

Dr Dutta, a current BCLA council member with a passion for optometric education and research, aims to “inspire a new era” for the organisation. He will help to shape the content for future conferences and contribute to other key aspects of the BCLA’s objectives.

He said: “This is a rare opportunity to make a valuable contribution within the optometric landscape and shape one of the most pre-eminent conference programmes in this space.

“I am hugely excited at the prospect of delivering our academic provision, with a specific focus on our highly prestigious conference programme as we grow our reputation as a global leader in contact lens and anterior eye education.

“This is an opportunity to inspire a new era for the BCLA and support our growth and development ambitions through delivery of educational activities within the contact lens and anterior eye specialism.

“Professor James Wolffsohn has made an incredible contribution to the BCLA over many years. I am relishing the opportunity to work closely with him and building on his stellar body of work.”

As part of the role, Dr Dutta will offer guidance and advice to the BCLA council about scientific and academic elements within contact lenses and anterior eye such as education and research.

Dr Dutta became a Fellow of BCLA in 2019. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO), the International Contact Lens Association (FIACLE) and the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

After completing his PhD at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Australia in 2014, he worked as a research fellow and associate lecturer at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of NSW Australia.

His research interests include contact lenses, dry eye, ocular infections and antimicrobial strategies, including current supervision for PhD, Post-doctoral and Professional Doctorate (OD) students.