Pioneer Research Award

The Pioneer Research Awards (PRA), sponsored by the society, aims to support and encourage independent clinical research in the field of cataract and refractive surgery.

The competition is open to ophthalmologists up to the age of 45 (at the application deadline). Eligible participants must hold a full-time clinical or research position at a clinical or academic centre within the European region. 

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of the Pioneer Award is to:

• Support, encourage, and fund individuals interested in starting clinical research activities in the field of cataract and refractive surgery.
• Introduce and develop a body of clinical research work, addressing a challenging problem to devise a practical solution.
• Facilitate and support an independent culture of study for the ultimate benefit of patients.

The Pioneer Award aims to fund various new initiatives, which may include:

• A novel research idea for the development of clinical trial studies.
• A non-interventional or observational study.
• A natural history/epidemiological study.
• A comprehensive series of retrospective case-control studies.
• A patient or disease registry.

Successful applicants may receive up to €25,000 for a single project with a duration no longer than two years.

Who should apply?

• The competition is open to young ophthalmologists up to the age of 45 who have been ESCRS members for at least one year and hold a full-time clinical or research position at a clinical or academic centre within the European region.
• A PRA application requires clear reference to a current systematic review and meta-analysis, if available, published on the topic of which the applicant wishes to apply. The supervision of an established researcher is required by ESCRS.
• Please note that applications from current ESCRS Research Committee members, as well as the Executive, Trustees, Council Members and co-opted Council Members will not be accepted. This abstention extends to submissions from their respective departments and/or clinics. Please check with the Head Office (escrs@escrs.org) if you are unsure of your eligibility.

Review Process

All submissions will undergo a robust, blinded peer review process:

• Applications are anonymised and reviewed by subject matter experts who will also be anonymous to the applicant. Please therefore ensure that your application contains no identifiable information. If there is any identifiable information the administration team will redact it before sending to review.
• Top-ranked applications are submitted to the ESCRS Research Committee for final approval.
• This is to maintain fairness, transparency, and scientific integrity in award decision-making.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications should contain and will be assessed based on:

Criterion	Details:
Research Question:	Well-defined, addresses a gap in the literature, appropriate for proposed methodology, relevant and novel
Methodology:	Strong design preferred (e.g., RCTs, systematic reviews, life-cycle analyses), appropriate
Feasibility:	Realistic scope for the proposed project
Finance:	Clear, justified and feasible use of award funds
Dissemination Plan:	Includes publication, conference presentation, and novel dissemination (e.g., podcasts/webinars)
Expected outcomes:	Importance and impact of the outcomes

How to Apply

To apply, please complete the form linked below  by 31 October 2025.

If you have any questions, contact the ESCRS Head Office at  escrs@escrs.org.

Please read the ESCRS Grant Agreement Template  prior to submitting your application and indicate that you understand the terms within the form where asked.