The Eye Foundation, with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, is pleased to announce that applications are now invited for the Novartis Medical Retina Research Scholarships for 2011. It is intented that two scholarships of AUD$30,000 each will be awarded to candidates undertaking research in the area of medical retina.

Download

• Scholarship Guidelines (2011)
• Scholarship Application (2011)

Applications should be sent to The Eye Foundation as detailed in the Scholarship Application no later than 5.00pm on Friday 1st October 2010.

Further Information

In 2009, scholarships for 2010 were awarded to those who:

• Were conducting research in the area of medical retina
• Could demonstrate outstanding leadership skills
• Had a proven record of excellence in the field of research
• Were able to establish how their proposed research project would assist the practice of ophthalmology in Australia
• Were able to establish the ongoing benefits of the research fellowship, both personally and to the practice of ophthalmology in Australia.

The Eye Foundation/Novartis Medical Retina Research Scholarship has been awarded since 2006. Previous successful applicants include:

In 2009

• Dr Paul Connell, for the research project entitled 'Quantative Assessment of Advanced Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vein Occlusion using novel geometric patterns of the retinal vasculature'.
• Dr Jagjit Gilhotra, for the research project entitled Treatment for exudative agre related macular degeneration with variable dosing Ranibizumab (Lucentis) and Sub-Tenon Triamcinolone (Kenacort-A 40)'.

In 2008

• Andrew Kaines has had 3 years of medical retina experience and is clearly committed to research. His project ‘Cone survival in early dry age related macular degeneration (ARMD) as a quantifiable measure of disease severity’ aims to quantify cone photoreceptors in ARMD by Adaptive Optics Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO). See Progress Report.
• Sanjeena Wickremasinghe’s project ‘Predictors of visual outcome in patients with “wet” age related macular degeneration’ is of an extremely high standard. See Progress Report.

In 2007

• Dr Lyndell Lim, who is researching the role of inflammatory markers in predicting risk, progression and treatment of age-related macular degeneration. See Progress Report
• Dr Andrew Kaines and Dr Samantha Fraser-Bell, who are researching the treatment of diabetic macular oedema. This is a prospective randomised trial of management with intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) versus conventional laser therapy.

In 2006

• Dr Samantha Fraser-Bell researched the role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the evaluation of age-related macular degeneration within clinical trials, and as a measure of response to therapies.  Being awarded this Research Fellowship enabled Dr Samantha Fraser-Bell to research treatments for diabetic macular oedema.  This research will investigate a new treatment for diabetic macular oedema using a drug injected into the eye, compared with conventional laser treatment of the eye. (The drug injected into the eye is called bevacizumab, or Avastin.)
• Between 2006 and 2007 Dr Andrew Symons had the opportunity to work with several distinguished retinal physicians at the Wilmer Eye Institute day to day in their clinics. He also worked in the General Eye Service of the Wilmer Eye Institute treating predominantly uninsured patients with severe retinal conditions.