Powered Research, a preclinical research organization specializing exclusively in these precise ophthalmic models, has named Geraint Parfitt as its newest Study Director. The appointment brings a seasoned drug discovery and commercialization executive onto the preclinical bench, signaling a focus on sponsor-aligned strategy as much as execution. By recruiting a leader with a deep background in both big pharma discovery and mid-cap commercialization, the company is bridging the structural gap between early-stage science and regulatory validation.
About Geraint Parfitt
The role of a Study Director at a specialized preclinical organization is often the defining factor in whether an asset successfully navigates the friction between early discovery and an Investigational New Drug (IND) application. By bringing on Geraint Parfitt, Powered Research is securing an executive who has spent over 15 years on the sponsor side of the table. His background spans the entire lifecycle of ophthalmic drug development, from early preclinical discovery to product commercialization and external alliance management. He isn’t just executing studies; he understands the regulatory and commercial weight the resulting data carries because he used to be the one buying the studies.
Most recently, Parfitt served as Vice President of Research and Development at OASIS Medical. In that capacity, he was responsible for taking eye-care products from the initial concept phase all the way through to commercial launch. That trajectory requires more than just scientific acumen; it demands an operational understanding of how to build infrastructure from the ground up. At OASIS, he established a completely new research facility and oversaw complex partnerships with contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). He understands the leverage, the diligence, and the timelines required to move an ophthalmic product through the development gauntlet, having managed the external alliances that make or break a commercial launch.
The transition from a sponsor-side discovery leader to a preclinical Study Director is a strategic realignment. Sponsors don’t just need data; they need data generated by someone who understands the exact pressures of an IND submission.
Before his tenure at OASIS Medical, Parfitt held the role of Associate Director of Ophthalmology Discovery Research at AbbVie. This is where the scientific heavy lifting occurred, particularly in the advanced modalities that are currently reshaping the vision science landscape. At AbbVie, he managed in vivo retinal pharmacology teams and directed critical donor-tissue collaborations. More importantly, he oversaw preclinical pipelines that spanned both gene therapies and biologics.
Ophthalmology is currently experiencing a massive influx of genetic medicines aimed at inherited retinal diseases and complex posterior segment conditions. Delivering a viral vector to the subretinal space requires surgical exactness and a deep understanding of pharmacology. Having a Study Director who has run gene therapy pipelines at a top-tier global pharma fundamentally changes the level of strategic insight Powered Research can offer its clients.
His career reflects a deliberate progression through the most challenging aspects of vision science, blending deep biophysical expertise with cross-functional project management. Parfitt holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from Cardiff University’s School of Optometry & Vision Sciences. That academic foundation is not merely a credential; it is the exact discipline required to understand how a capsid or a large molecule behaves in the vitreous or the retina. He brings a wealth of scientific expertise and a highly strategic, sponsor-side perspective to his new role, positioning him to drive the growing ophthalmology programs at Powered Research forward.
About Powered Research
Powered Research is a preclinical contract research organization uniquely focused on ophthalmology and vision science. The company provides the essential in vivo models, pharmacology expertise, and preclinical drug development services required to advance novel therapeutics toward the clinic.
By specializing exclusively in the eye, the organization offers sponsors the targeted expertise necessary to evaluate biologics, small molecules, and gene therapies in highly complex retinal and corneal models. The organization operates at the critical juncture between early-stage discovery and clinical validation, serving as a strategic partner for life sciences companies navigating the rigorous demands of ophthalmic drug development. With a growing bench of seasoned scientific leaders, Powered Research is structured to support the industry’s shift toward advanced modalities and precision genetic medicines in eye care.
