Working life: Fionnuala Hickey, research manager, Fighting Blindness

6.45am

He comes to tell me that the sun is up and the next hour is a busy mix of breakfast, picking a book for his book club and a favourite toy to bring to pre-school.

I drop him off en route to work and take the Dart into Dublin city centre from where it’s a short walk to the office in Ely Place. I am research manager with Fighting Blindness.

8.45am

I go through emails and follow-up where necessary. We have a communications and advocacy team and there is substantial overlap between my role and theirs. We meet to discuss the issues of the day.

We are a patient-led charity focused on funding research into potential treatment and cures for blindness and my role is overseeing the management of that funding.

Researchers submit grant applications and I make sure they are reviewed by international scientists before forwarding the feedback and recommendation to our board.

The board makes a recommendation based on the funds available with regard to whether the proposed research sits well with the charity.

10.30am

With a two-day conference coming up, Retina 2016, in Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin on November 11and 12, I have groundwork to do. It will bring together leading experts on sight loss.

The first day will be a scientific meeting for health professionals while day two is aimed at people experiencing sight loss. It offers a chance to hear first-hand of advances in treatment as well as a rare opportunity to seek answers from researchers and doctors.

Advances in gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and new drug therapies will be up for discussion.

1pm

I have a lunchtime meeting with the CEO and board of directors to discuss the direction of our new research strategy.

2pm

I contact the science advisory board to report on projects we’re funding and to ask if there’s anything we should be following up on.

Target 5000 is probably our biggest research project and aims to provide genetic testing for the estimated 5,000 people in Ireland who have a genetic retinal condition.

In all, 224,000 children and adults in Ireland are affected by severe vision impairment.

5pm

I head for home, collecting my small boy on the way. We chat about his day and when his daddy gets home about 7pm, I catch up on household chores.