A SOUTHAMPTON scientist is desperate for funds to continue research towards finding a cure for blindness. His appeal comes on the same day that news of his major breakthrough is announced.

Professor Andrew Lotery and his team have discovered the gene that causes macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in Britain . It affects hundreds of thousands of people.

Today his findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the most prestigious research magazines in the world.

Unless he can raise cash to continue his work at Southampton General Hospital by the end of the year, he will have to lay off two of his three scientists.

Macular degeneration is caused by the deterioration of the central part of the retina which records what we see and sends messages to the brain.

"We now have a roadmap which tells us how we get from a faulty gene to a patient with macular degeneration," said Prof Lotery.

"Yet, theoretically, our lab will virtually close if further funds are not found.

"It's particularly frustrating when we're doing world-class research here."

Today Prof Lotery and Southampton-based charity Hope are launching the Gift of Sight appeal to raise £2m, backed by macular degeneration sufferer and best-selling author Richard Adams.

The interest from this capital sum would, he says, ensure the laboratory's future for the next 30 years.

The 38-year-old blamed the lack of available medical grants on the repercussions of the stock market crash several years ago.

"Funding for medical research in the UK is far lower than Europe and the US," he added.

To make a donation to Prof Lotery's research call 023 8033 3366 or log on to www.giftofsight.org.uk