Prestigious £100,000 IGA and RCOphth research grant launched
4 October 2019
There are 700,000 people in the UK living with glaucoma, an eye disease that without treatment typically causes loss of vision. Over the next ten years, glaucoma cases are predicted to rise by 22% and over 20 years by 44%. Research is vital to improve understanding of glaucoma and develop innovative and sight-saving treatments.
The £100,000 Ophthalmology research award is run in partnership between the RCOphth and the IGA, with the IGA providing the funding for this important contribution towards glaucoma research. The prestigious award has now been running for nearly 20 years and has funded research from prospective stem cell treatments to the use of big data in patient risk stratification.
The IGA encourages patient-orientated research directly concerned with the improvement of glaucoma management. Applicants may be trainees seeking support for a fellowship or senior researchers seeking a grant for a project. Last year’s successful applicant was Dr Victor Hu, International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine with his project ‘Detecting glaucoma using a combination of low-cost, portable and easy to use tests’.
Karen Osborn, Chief Executive, International Glaucoma Association
‘We are delighted to announce the call for the International Glaucoma Association (IGA) and The Royal College of Ophthalmology (RCOphth) £100,000 Ophthalmology research award, which forms part of our largest ever annual programme of research funding. We’re grateful to our friends at the College for their help in the promotion and administration of the award, and we’re hoping for a bumper year in terms of applications.’
Prof Philip Bloom MB ChB FRCS FRCOphth, Chair, International Glaucoma Association
‘The importance of research awards in the field of ophthalmology cannot be understated. Research has led to improved technology and innovative methods of service delivery that are helping to improve the way we deliver care. We’re proud to have played a role in this, and we’re excited to see what new studies will be proposed in this grants round.’
The IGA and RCOphth wish to encourage a high level of applications for 2020 for this prestigious award.
Award applications close 1 February 2020. To apply please visit https://curriculum.rcophth.ac.uk/professional-resources/awards-and-prizes/
About the International Glaucoma Association:
The International Glaucoma Association (IGA) is the charity for people with glaucoma: we are a membership organisation, and glaucoma patients are at the very heart of all we do. We support people to live well with glaucoma by providing a telephone helpline, regional support groups, peer support services and widely acclaimed patient information booklets. We also fund vital glaucoma research, and we campaign to raise awareness of the disease and encourage good eye health care.
For more information, please visit: www.glaucoma-association.com
Sightline glaucoma helpline: 01233 64 81 70 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am–5.00pm).