The 2022 ESCRS Digital Research Awards are an initiative sponsored by the ESCRS to support and encourage research leading to digital transformation in the fields of cataract, refractive and corneal surgery. The competition is open to all clinicians and researchers.

The purpose of the DRA Research Call is: 

• to support, encourage and fund individuals or teams that actively conduct research leading to the collection of high-quality healthcare data in routine clinical practice in the field of cataract, refractive and corneal surgery.
• to support the development of open access datasets for clinical research in the field of cataract, refractive and corneal surgery – either from prospective data collection or the transfer of existing anonymised datasets to the public domain.

Support up to €500,000 is available over a maximum of three years for a project with suitable infrastructure and experience. Interdisciplinary research projects incorporating combined clinical fellowship and digital healthcare research training leading to a higher degree are particularly encouraged. Partnership with academic or commercial data science expertise is also encouraged. Projects may be small or large, with clear goals and a well-designed plan for project execution.

Targeted research or development projects covering any stage of the journey from structured data collection in clinic to the creation of high-quality, interoperable, open access datasets for research in the field of cataract, refractive and corneal surgery (including the wider scope of ocular surface and anterior segment disorders) may be eligible for consideration.

Researchers should be able to frame at least one important clinical research question that appropriate analysis of data collected will ultimately help to answer.  

How to apply

The competition is now open (from Sept 12^th, 2022).  Up until 13.00 (CET) on November 14^th, 2022, you can enter a preliminary application for the ESCRS Digital Research Awards.  

Timetable

• September 12, 2022

  DRA call opens for preliminary applications.

• November 14, 2022

  Deadline for receipt of preliminary applications.

• November 28, 2022

  Invitation to shortlisted applicants to submit full proposals.

• January 30, 2023

  Receipt of full proposals from shortlisted candidates.

• February 27, 2023

  Notification of successful candidates.