CALL FOR ENTRIES FOR EURETINA INNOVATION AWARD

Following on from a very successful launch at the EURETINA Congress in London last year, the EURETINA Innovation Award is once again inviting applications from researchers in the field of retinal medicine.

Established with the goal of supporting and encouraging innovation in retinal medicine, the EURETINA Innovation Award will be the focus of a special symposium to be held during the 12th EURETINA Congress in Milan in September 2012.

A cheque for €20,000 will be presented to the overall winner of the EURETINA Innovation Award, with the runner-up receiving €10,000.

Reflecting on the high standard of the entries received last year for the first-ever award, Einar Stefansson MD, PhD, chairman of the judging panel, expressed confidence that this year’s crop of entries would raise the bar even higher.

“We were very happy with both the quantity and quality of entries received last year, all the more so as it was the first year and we did not quite know what to expect. The hardest part was actually trying to select the shortlist of potential winners because the standard was so high. We are confident that this year’s entries will maintain the momentum and showcase the excellent work being carried out in retinal research in Europe at the moment,†he said.

Prof Stefansson said that it was important for EURETINA to play its part in supporting and rewarding individuals who actively consider and develop novel and innovative ideas relevant to the field of retinal medicine.

“I think this is an important role for us to facilitate and support a European entrepreneurial culture in order to deliver new market applications for the ultimate benefit of patients with retinal disorders. I think our experience last year showed that this award serves a definite need and was well received both by the innovators that submitted proposals as well as the delegates that attended the EURETINA congress. I also had many colleagues who approached me personally to voice their support for this new initiative,†he said.

While Prof Stefansson noted that there has been a definite evolution in terms of fostering innovation in retinal research in recent years, he believes that there is still plenty of scope for improvement.

“I think the level of interest could be and should be greater than exists at present. Over the years we have seen greater awareness of the need to move beyond research not only as a means to advance scientific knowledge, but also to take on board the practical and commercial application of that research. We have moved in that direction over time but my feeling is that this has happened more rapidly in the US, and that Europe has been following behind somewhat. I think we could certainly intensify our efforts in that respect,†he said.

With this in mind, Prof Stefansson believes that the EURETINA Innovation Award can play a part in highlighting the innovative research being carried out in European laboratories and clinics.

“One of the goals of the award is to bring forward the innovation that is taking place in Europe and to encourage industry to take an interest and support these projects,†he said.

Last year’s first prize was awarded to Prof Martin Rudolf of the University of Lübeck in Germany. He won the Innovation Award for his work on the prevention and treatment of macular degeneration by reducing pathological lipid deposition and inflammation in the eye. Second prize went to Prof Eberhart Zrenner of the University of Tübingen for his research demonstrating how subretinal electronic implants can restore basic visual function in blind retinitis pigmentosa patients.

Further information about the EURETINA Innovation Award 2012 can be found at http://www.euretina.org/Innovation